Retail Clinics

WOONSOCKET, R.I. In recognition of American Diabetes Month in November, MinuteClinic is offering complimentary A1c tests beginning Oct. 25 through Nov. 25, CVS Caremark has announced. The free tests, sponsored by Bayer Diabetes Care, are available while supplies last.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. Drug maker Hospira has launched a generic treatment for bacterial infections, Hospira said Thursday.

The company, which specializes in generic injectables, announced the launch of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection. The drug is a generic version of Pfizer’s Zosyn.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $797 million during the 12-month period ended in August, according to IMS Health. Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, also launched its own version of the drug Thursday.

WASHINGTON Seven months after President Obama signed the massive health-reform bill into law, Americans remain deeply divided over the controversial overhaul and its potential benefits, a new poll from the Associated Press and the GfK Group revealed.

PRINCETON, N.J. A few days after it released a report on how awareness and education play an integral role in the prevention, detection and treatment of diabetes, Novo Nordisk is bringing it to the public.

PRINCETON, N.J. Sandoz has launched a generic antibiotic drug, the generics division of Swiss drug maker Novartis said Thursday.

Sandoz announced the launch of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection. The drug is used to treat moderate to severe infections of bacteria resistant to piperacillin alone but vulnerable to the combination of the two drugs.

ATLANTA The rate of diabetes among Americans is on an upswing and likely will reach epic proportions by 2050, costing the government millions.

ARDEE, Ireland The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive from Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said Friday.

The company said it plans to launch Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets) early next year. The company said the contraceptive contains the lowest dosage of estrogen — 10 micrograms — of any oral contraceptive currently available in the U.S. market.

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. Americans can lower their total medical costs significantly by taking simple steps to prevent or manage disease and by switching to generic drugs whenever possible, new research from health insurance giant Cigna confirmed.