Regulatory and Washington

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A survey of more than 1,000 independent pharmacists finds that acquisition costs for generic drugs have spiked by as much as 1,000% this year.

WASHINGTON — Fifteen years after reaching more than $246 billion in legal settlements against the tobacco industry, most states have fallen short of spending a significant portion of the money on programs to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit, according to a report released Monday by a coalition of public health organizations.

WASHINGTON — The American Pharmacists Association's philanthropic wing has appointed five new members to its board of directors, the group said Monday.

The APhA Foundation announced in September the official installment of Stuart Haines, professor of and vice chairman for clinical services in the Unviersity of Maryland School of Pharmacy's Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science in Baltimore, as well as a clinical pharmacy specialist in primary care at the West Palm Beach, Fla., VA Medical Center.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – Sears Holdings is spinning off its clothing business, the parent company of Kmart said Friday.

Sears said it had filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to spin off Lands' End. The company hopes that separating the management of Sears Holdings and Lands' end will make it easier for the latter to pursue opportunities on its own.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for hepatitis C made by Gilead Sciences, the drug maker said Friday.

NEW YORK — While a vaccine against measles has been available for 50 years, the disease remains a threat in the United States, particularly when acquired by children entering the country from abroad, according to a new report.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for a sexual deformity that affects men.

NEW YORK — The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Target for its efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, the agency said.

According to the EPA, Target's technology center engineering team singlehandedly reduced the company's carbon emissions by 18,000 tons since 2006 and is committed to having 75% of Target buildings certified by the agency's Energy Star program by 2016.