Specialty Pharmacy

NEW YORK — A new study has found a significant increase in the number of high school students who report having abused a common prescription drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, even as abuse of other prescription drugs has decreased or remained low.

BALTIMORE — Lupin has launched a generic drug for treating HIV, following its victory in a patent-infringement suit in federal court, the Indian drug maker said Wednesday.

Lupin's U.S. subsidiary launched its generic version of ViiV Healthcare's Trizivir (abacavir sulfate; lamivudine; zidovudine) tablets in the 300-mg/150-mg/300-mg strength. The launch follows a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware that the drug did not infringe on Viiv's patent.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Actelion has launched a topical gel used to treat a kind of skin cancer, the company said.

Actelion announced the launch of Valchlor (mechlorethamine), which the Food and Drug Administration approved in August for treating stage 1A and 1B mycosis fungoides-type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in patient who have received skin-directed therapy before. Actelion acquired rights to the drug when it merged with Ceptaris Therapeutics. Accredo Specialty Pharmacy distributes the drug in the United States.

DUBLIN — Perrigo has finalized its acquisition of Elan Corp., Perrigo said Wednesday.

The Michigan-based maker of branded and generic prescription and OTC drugs announced last week that the Irish High Court had approved its $8.6 billion deal to buy Ireland-based Elan, the last regulatory hurdle it had to clear before finalizing the deal, which it announced in July.

NEW YORK — Three organizations will receive part of $1.3 million in funding that German drug maker Merck KGaA and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society are distributing for MS research.

EMD Serono, the name the Merck KGaA uses in the United States to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co., and the National MS Society said the money will help encourage early-stage drug discovery for the autoimmune disease.

BURLINGTON, Mass. — Forty blockbuster drugs will use patent exclusivity in the United States between this year and 2020, according to a new study.

NEW YORK  — Grocer A&P, which operates more than 300 stores across six states, has signed a three-year agreement with Innovatix, whereby it will serve as A&P’s exclusive provider of specialty pharmacy services.

PITTSBURGH — Mylan and a partnering company will be able to sell a generic version of a cancer drug starting in summer 2015, under a court settlement announced Tuesday.

Mylan said that it and Banner Pharmacaps had reached a settlement agreement with Eisai and a subsidiary of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International to resolve a lawsuit filed over their generic version of Targretin (bexarotene) capsules in the 75-mg strength. The drug is used to treat certain forms of T-cell lymphoma.