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SAN FRANCISCO — While pressure to grow will drive more large drug makers to pursue mergers and acquisitions, diminished resources and competition from biotech and specialty pharmaceutical companies will challenge their ability to do so, according to a new report.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Novo Nordisk has appointed Curtis Oltmans as its corporate VP and general counsel for legal and quality affairs, the company said Friday.

In the new role, for which he will also join the company's U.S. executive team, Oltmans will be handle issues like law, quality, intellectual property, grants and philanthropy for the Danish drug maker's North American business.

CHICAGO — Sales of smoking cessation aids are projected to reach $1 billion in 2012 with continued growth driving sales as high as $1.2 billion by 2017, market research firm Mintel reported Thursday. 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The March of Dimes is launching a campaign to encourage expectant mothers to take folic acid to prevent birth defects, the group said Friday.

The group announced national Folic Acid Awareness Week, reminding pregnant women to take vitamin B. The vitamin is known to prevent birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly, collectively known as neural tube defects. NTDs occur in the first few weeks following conception, often before a woman knows she is pregnant.

NEW YORK — According to a Bloomberg report published Friday morning, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi are all potential suitors for Bausch & Lomb's eye care business in a deal that could be valued as high as $10 billion. 

B&L is being shopped by private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which is working with Goldman Sachs Group, Bloomberg reported, and both Abbott and Sanofi have contracted financial advisors as well. 

Other companies who have been invited to bid include Merck and Pfizer. 

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new means of administration for a multiple sclerosis drug, the manufacturers said.

Pfizer and EMD Serono announced the approval of Rebif Rebidose (interferon beta-1a), a single-use auto-injector for self-administering Rebif, used to treat relapsing forms of MS. EMD Serono is the U.S. division of German drug maker Merck KGaA, so-named to avoid confusion with U.S.-based Merck & Co.

NORTH WALES, Pa. — An inhaler for patients with bronchospasm that includes a dose counter has become available from Teva Respiratory, the company said Thursday.

The company, which is the branded respiratory division of Israeli drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, announced the available of ProAir HFA (i.e., albuterol sulfate), for patients aged 4 and older to prevent and treat bronchospasm with reversible obstructive airway disease and prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm. The inhaler received Food and Drug Administration approval in March 2012.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Pfizer's generics division has launched an authorized generic drug for treating epilepsy.

Greenstone announced the introduction of phenytoin tablets in the 50-mg strength, an authorized generic version of Pfizer's Dilantin Infatabs.

Authorized generics are generic drugs marketed under their generic names at a reduced price, often through third-party companies under contract with the original drug's manufacturer.