Retail Clinics

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and OAK BROOK, Ill. — CVS Caremark's retail-based clinic operator, MinuteClinic, has entered into a clinical affiliation with Advocate Health Care and Advocate Physician Partners to enhance the healthcare services provided to patients in communities throughout Chicagoland and central Illinois. The deal marks the largest clinical collaboration between a regional health system and MinuteClinic based on number of in-store clinic locations.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday posted a notification to healthcare professionals and patients that the agency continues to receive reports of methemoglobinemia, a serious and potentially fatal adverse effect, associated with benzocaine products, which are available as a spray, gel and liquids sold over the counter. Benzocaine products are used to relieve pain from a variety of conditions, such as teething, canker sores, and irritation of the mouth and gums.

CLEVELAND — Reese Pharmaceutical has launched a water-based aerosol that is designed to kill bed bugs.

The new Licide bed bug spray is designed to keep homes free of bed bugs for up to four weeks, the company said. The product is available in a 5-oz. size.

Reese also will produce a private-label version of the Lucide bed bug spray, the company noted, and will distribute the products in retailers nationwide.

WESTBURY, N.Y. — PL Developments on Monday announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to sell and distribute store-brand over-the-counter versions of omeprazole sodium bicarbonate capsules, the generic version of Merck’s Zegerid OTC.

Par Pharmaceutical currently has approval for the prescription product and has filed for the OTC version. Upon FDA approval and upon favorable resolution of intellectual property litigation, PL Developments will begin marketing the new store-brand proton-pump inhibitor, the company stated.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Representatives from leading employers and payers met Monday to discuss the evolving role of employers in health care at the first Walgreens Employer Health and Wellness Executive Client Forum.

The event features presentations from Walgreens executives on clinical outcomes data supporting the benefits of utilizing employer health programs beyond traditional services.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic treatment for iron deficiency anemia made by Watson Pharmaceuticals, Watson said Thursday.

The drug maker announced the approval of Nulecit (sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose), an injectable and generic version of Sanofi-Aventis’ Ferrlecit.

The drug is used to treat iron deficiency anemia in adults and children ages 6 years and older undergoing chronic hemodialysis and receiving supplemental epoetin therapy.

WASHINGTON — The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday published a working paper that identified $329 million in overspending as a result of underutilization of generics.

As total spending on 20 medicines with generic equivalents totaled approximately $1.5 billion, AEI concluded Medicaid overspent by 22% ($1.5 billion versus $1.17 billion) on these pharmaceuticals.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Dijuana Lewis was named SVP healthcare solutions at Walmart, the company announced Thursday. She will report to John Agwunobi, who serves as president of Walmart’s health-and-wellness business unit.