Specialty Pharmacy

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has received limited distribution rights for a neovascular age-related macular degeneration treatment.

The specialty pharmacy chain said it has received distribution of Eylea (aflibercept) injection from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, the drug's manufacturer. Macular degeneration is diagnosed as either nonvascular (dry) or vascular (wet) and is a leading cause of blindness in older adults. The vascular AMD usually leads to more serious vision loss, Diplomat said.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Endo Pharmaceuticals announced a short-term supply constraint of analgesic products, including Opana ER, due to the temporary shutdown of a manufacturing facility operated by Novartis Consumer Health.

NEW YORK — Bristol-Myers Squibb is buying Inhibitex for $2.5 billion, the companies said.

In a $26-per-share tender offer, Bristol will acquire the Alpharetta, Ga.-based developer of treatments for hepatitis C. Inhibitex's lead product is INX-189, an orally administered drug currently in phase-2 clinical trials.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Sandoz has launched a shampoo used to treat severe scalp psoriasis, the generic drug maker said.

Sandoz announced the introduction of clobetasol propionate shampoo in the 0.05% strength, an authorized generic version of Galderma Labs' Clobex. An authorized generic drug is a branded drug sold under its generic name, usually by a third-party company at a reduced price.

Various versions of the shampoo had sales of about $54.9 million during the 12-month period ended in October 2011, according to IMS Health.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track designation to a drug currently under development by Achillion Pharmaceuticals for hepatitis C, the company said.

WESTON, Mass. — Biogen Idec and Isis Pharmaceuticals will work together on a drug invented by Isis for spinal muscular atrophy, the two companies said.

According to the companies, SMA is the most common genetic cause of infant mortality and causes muscle atrophy and weakness, occurring in 1-in-10,000 births. While children with the condition appear normal at birth, symptoms can develop within a few months and significantly shorten their lifespan. The drug, ISIS-SMNRx, is designed to compensate for the underlying genetic defect that causes SMA.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Drug maker Amgen will discuss the supplemental biologics license application of Xgeva before a Food and Drug Administration review panel next month.

SEATTLE — The Food and Drug Administration's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will review a resubmitted new drug application for a cancer treatment made by Cell Therapeutics.

The company said that the panel will review the NDA for pixantrone, which is designed to treat relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients who failed two or more lines of prior therapy.