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BRUSSELS — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new usage for a drug made by UCB, the drug maker said Monday.

UCB announced the approval of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for psoriatic arthritis in adults. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints, usually combined with the skin lesions of psoriasis. The drug was already approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Healthcare Distribution Management Association on Saturday added its voice supporting national pharmaceutical traceability legislation (Drug Quality and Security Act/H.R. 3204). 

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Criminal Justice Association has recognized a program to combat prescription drug abuse in Arizona as the best such program in the west of the country.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said the Arizona Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Initiative received the NCJA's 2013 Western Region Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award. The program involves state agencies and organizations, including the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy.

COLUMBIA, Md. — FlavoRx will start recognizing independent pharmacies that have implemented its program next month, the company said Friday.

FlavoRx, which makes flavorings that pharmacists can add to drugs, announced the inaugural FlavoRx Independent Pharmacy of the Year award, to be presented every October.

NEW YORK — The global market for Type 2 diabetes will nearly double over the next six years, according to a new report.

GBI Research announced the release of a study Tuesday indicating that the market will grow from 2012's $20.4 billion to $38.8 billion by 2019, at an annual growth rate of 10.2%. The United States' market, meanwhile, will more than double, from $12.7 billion last year to $27.2 billion in 2019.

STAMFORD, Conn. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new dosage strength for a chronic pain patch made by Purdue Pharma, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Purdue announced the approval of the 15-microgram-per-hour strength of Butrans (buprenorphine). The drug is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when a continuous, around-the-clock opioid analgesic is needed for an extended period of time. The new strength is in addition to the 5-microgram, 10-microgram and 20-microgram strengths already on the market, and it will be launched next month.

GHENT, Belgium — Belgian drug maker Ablynx is licensing an experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to U.S. drug maker AbbVie in a deal worth up to $840 million, the companies said.

The two drug makers announced that AbbVie would license the drug ALX-0061 for an upfront payment of $175 million plus milestone payments worth up to $665 million, as well as royalties. The drug belongs to a class known as anti-interleukin-6R nanobodies, which work by targeting an immune-system protein pathway that plays a key role in the inflammation associated with RA.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo Co. has hired a former Food and Drug Administration official for its regulatory department, the drug maker said Friday.

The Allegan, Mich.-based drug maker announced the appointment of Keith Webber as head of regulatory review, a position in which he will start on Oct. 21. Webber previously served as acting director of the FDA's Office of Pharmaceutical Science, part of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, which regulates prescription and OTC drugs. He also served as director of the Office of Generic Drugs.