Regulatory and Washington

LONDON — Companies that make vaccines, drugs and diagnostic tests for influenza will become key stakeholders in the World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Surveillance Network under an agreement reached at the Open Ended Working Group that WHO coordinated to support global preparedness for a future influenza pandemic.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals is hoping to become the first company to market a generic treatment for cholesterol.

The drug maker said Wednesday that it had filed with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a generic version of Welchol (colesevelam hydrochloride) tablets in the 625-mg strength, made by Daiichi Sankyo, thus challenging the patents covering the drug.

LONDON — GlaxoSmithKline and Valeant last week responded to the Food and Drug Administration's complete response letter for the companies' investigational anti-epileptic drug.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Genentech for the treatment of two rare inflammatory disorders, the agency said.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is looking to curb the growing national epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse, according to a plan unveiled Tuesday.

Elements of the plan include expansion of state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, recommendation of convenient and environmentally responsible drug-disposal methods, education and reduction of doctor shopping.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced that distribution of McNeil Consumer Healthcare consumer products will slow in the coming months as the company shifts production of its over-the-counter medicines to other manufacturing plants and implements additional third-party quality controls within those plants.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday named longtime industry veteran John Coster as SVP government affairs and head of the association’s newly created NCPA Advocacy Center.

The NCPA Advocacy Center will unite the association’s government affairs, grassroots, pharmacy benefit manager transparency, professional affairs and public affairs programs to enhance NCPA advocacy efforts and ensure that they have the maximum impact possible.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan has launched a generic drug for treating herpes, the company said Wednesday.

Mylan announced the launch of famciclovir tablets in the 125-mg, 250-mg and 500-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Novartis’ Famvir.

Branded and generic versions of the drug had sales of $196 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.