The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic oral contraceptive made by Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis said Wednesday.

Proactivity. That was the common theme bridging presentations between H-E-B’s Bob Loeffler, incoming chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and featured speaker Jeff Strong, Johnson & Johnson’s chief customer officer, during the closing business session at the 2011 NACDS Annual Meeting Tuesday morning.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic version of Rogaine made by Perrigo, the drug maker said.

Pharmacists in Utah and Ohio have won the 2011 Bowl of Hygeia awards from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, the two organizations announced.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced that Robert Loeffler will succeed Larry Merlo as the organization's new board of directors chairman, and also announced the appointment of several other elected officers, at its 2011 Annual Meeting.

Watson Pharmaceuticals has launched an authorized generic version of a Johnson & Johnson drug for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder through a subsidiary, Watson said Monday.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association announced on Friday that they have issued a letter to Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., expressing pharmacy's support for H.R. 1092, the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, which would help preserve Tricare beneficiaries' access to pharmacy-based healthcare services.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour recently signed into law the Mississippi Pharmacy Practice Act, which establishes oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (defined as nonresident pharmacies) by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy.

Many states need to improve healthy food access to promote healthy eating habits and curb obesity among children, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pharmacy technicians certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board maximize their training experiences at the Department of Defense Military Education and Training Campus in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the PTCB said.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this weekend, the agency said.