News Briefs

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Roche’s Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in otherwise healthy children aged 5 years old to less than 12 years old who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.

This marks the first single dose oral influenza medicine approved for children in this age group. Additionally, the FDA-approved Xofluza for the prevention (post-exposure prophylaxis) of influenza in children aged 5 years old to less than 12 years old following contact with someone with influenza.

“Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, influenza continues to be a threat to public health, and effective influenza antivirals remain critical to alleviating the burden on healthcare systems,” said Levi Garraway, Roche’s chief medical officer and head of global product development. “Xofluza has proven to be an important tool in fighting and preventing influenza in adults as well as adolescents, and we are pleased to now offer households and younger children our single-dose oral treatment.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza can be a serious illness for young children. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there have been significantly fewer influenza cases, likely due in large part to social distancing and mask wearing. However, in the 2018-2019 influenza season, there were more than 6 million illnesses, thousands of hospitalizations and over 100 deaths among children aged 5 to 17 years old caused by influenza, Roche said.

“Historically, school-aged children have played a significant role in the community transmission of influenza. The annual influenza vaccine continues to be the most important first step to prevent illness in children, though there can still be breakthrough cases where antiviral treatment is needed,” said Pedro Piedra, miniSTONE-2 study investigator and professor of molecular virology, microbiology and pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Today’s FDA approval provides children with a single-dose antiviral option, Xofluza, to treat influenza.”

Xofluza already is FDA approved to treat influenza in people aged 12 years old and older who have had influenza symptoms for no more than 48 hours and who are otherwise healthy or at high risk of developing influenza-related complications.

Xofluza also is approved to prevent influenza in people aged 12 years old and older, following contact with someone with influenza (known as post-exposure prophylaxis).

CBD Move Free has launched a new pocket-sized balm to give users relief on the go.

Developed to be more affordable and provide users with a travel-size option, CBD Move Free 350 mg is a smaller version of the brand’s original CBD-infused balm, designed to fit into any pocket or purse for on-the-go relief of joint and muscle aches. CBD Move Free is also expanding its retail presence, announcing that leading grocery chain Market of Choice will now carry select products.

“We’re very excited to be expanding our brand in various ways, from adding new products to onboarding new retail partners,” said CEO and co-founder Jonas Roeser. “As we develop new products and work with more retailers, we wanted to create a high-quality product without the high price tag that comes with so many other CBD products. We’re thrilled to announce our newest product that provides a solution to the high price point and also gives our retail partners a product that’s perfectly suited for shelves.”

The new balm comes in a 2-oz. size and retails for $19.99, enabling consumers to bring CBD Move Free with them anywhere to fight inflammation and calm joint discomfort or muscle aches at a moment’s notice. The product is created from a blend of key nutrients and organic ingredients, according to CBD Move Free.

Coffee Mate, for the first time in its 50-year history, is debuting plant-based milk creamers.

The brand’s new almond and oat milk creamers, which come in French vanilla and caramel options, combine the brand’s signature flavors with the smooth and blended base of oat and almond milk, the company said.

“As creamer fans continue to seek variety, both in flavor and ingredients, it was only natural for Coffee Mate to step into the plant space,” said Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé senior director of brand marketing and leader of the creamer business unit. “Now everyone can have the best of both worlds — the delicious taste of Coffee Mate, featuring plant-based ingredients.”

Coffee Mate’s Plant-Based Almond and Oat Milk French Vanilla Flavored Creamer are non-dairy, lactose and cholesterol free, and contain notes of classic French vanilla.

The brand’s Plant-Based Almond and Oat Milk Caramel Flavored Creamer feature a buttery caramel flavor with notes of almond and oat milk mixed in.

Both of Coffee Mate’s new almond and oat milk-based creamers are available in a 28-oz. size.

Hyland’s Naturals is introducing Baby Cough & Immune Daytime and Kids Cough & Mucus Daytime + Nighttime.

All Hyland’s Naturals remedies are allergen free, cruelty-free, paraben free and alcohol free; vegetarian-friendly; and contain no artificial colorings or dyes, the company said.

Hyland’s Naturals Baby Cough & Immune Daytime is a Walmart exclusive. The product is intended to help soothe baby’s cough from a dry, irritated throat while promoting healthy immune function. 

Key ingredients include organic elderberry, a botanical known for its dark purple berries; organic agave, a syrup produced from a succulent plant known to soothe coughs and dry scratchy throats; and organic pomegranate, a fruit juice know for antioxidant support.

Hyland’s Naturals Kids Cough & Mucus Daytime will be available on Hylands.com and Amazon, as well as at Walmart, Target, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

Key ingredients include bryonia alba, a wild vine in the gourd family used to provide relief from sore throat and mucus in throat and cough, and pulsatilla, a spring-blooming flower that helps aid fussiness and relieve coughs and stuffy noses by clearing up the accumulation of mucus.

Hyland’s Naturals Kids Cough & Mucus Nighttime will be available on Hylands.com and Amazon, as well as at Walmart, Target, Walgreens and CVS.

Key ingredients include chamomile, a small, daisy-like flower used medicinally since antiquity, soothing relief of irritability, insomnia and restlessness; and pulsatilla, a spring-blooming flower that helps aid fussiness and relieve coughs and stuffy noses by clearing up the accumulation of mucus. 

Re+Play, the performance-based wellness and recovery line of Harrington Wellness, has formed a multi-year partnership with The National Basketball Players Association, or NBPA, and will sell its recovery-promoting products at Amazon and Walmart.

The multi-year product development plan brings products to the masses, including topicals, kinesiology tape and massage guns, among other naturally infused pain products.

“Re+Play’s partnership with the NBPA will provide consumers with a wealth of trusted, technology-driven products to help them recover like a pro,” said Al Harrington, CEO of Harrington Wellness and former NBPA member.

“As we move into the next phase of the Re+Play brand with our strategic partners at Amazon, the NBPA and Walmart, we are excited to once again reimagine how we help athletes of all levels recover from pain with CBD and other innovative technology,” he said.

The first product release from this new union is a line of recovery creams developed in partnership with Avicanna, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of plant-derived, cannabinoid-based products.

“It was important that we developed a product that was clearly evidence-based and targeted at improving muscle recovery,” said Sanford Kunkel, chief medical officer at Harrington Wellness and Re+Play. “Through our partnership with Avicanna, we were able to develop our line at its R&D headquarters in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center, JLABS, giving us a significant competitive product advantage.’’

This new Re+Play product can be purchased at replayrecovery.com and will soon be available through the Replay Recovery Store on Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

BioFilm , the makers of Astroglide personal lubricants, is introducing its newest wellness brand, BioShell.

The brand’s debut product, BioShell Germ Defense for Your Mouth, is being touted as a simple, revolutionary, pocket-sized oral antiseptic. The company said that the product guards against infection by coating the throat and mouth with a thin, invisible antibacterial film that traps most germs before they have a chance to make you sick.

“The take-anywhere bottle is the perfect companion for travel, days in the office, large gatherings or events, and more. To use, simply spray BioShell Germ Defense in your mouth one to three times before entering crowded situations like planes, trains, concerts and meetings. It can be used up to three times a day for up to seven days,” BioFilm said. 

“Today’s consumers are looking for uncomplicated ways to be and stay healthy,” said Lisa O’Carroll, BioFilm CEO. “So we took our 30-plus years of experience making quality wellness products and dedicated ourselves to introducing easy-to-use, powerfully effective illness prevention products that are designed with modern lifestyles in mind, making wellness simple for consumers every single day.” 

BioShell Germ Defense for Your Mouth is suitable for ages 12 years old and older. It is available for purchase on Amazon and will be in the cough-cold and flu section of local drug stores and pharmacies later this year, the company said.