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BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Savient Pharmaceuticals has appointed a new finance chief.

John Hamill will serve as Savient's SVP and CFO, where he will be responsible for all financial and accounting functions of the company. Hamill, who brings more 25 years of global financial and administrative operational experience to his new role, will directly report to Savient president and CEO Lou Ferrari. Prior to joining the drug maker, Hamill served as CFO of PharmaNet Development Group, a leading global supplier of drug development services.

STAMFORD, Conn. — Pharmacy staff, law enforcement officials and loss-prevention personnel can follow updates about pharmacy robberies, burglaries and potential threats in their area through Twitter updates by a drug maker that developed a program to combat pharmacy crime.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration is creating a new task force to support the development of new drugs for bacterial infections, the agency said Monday.

The FDA said the Antibacterial Drug Development Task Force would assist in developing and revising guidance related to development of antibiotics, as required by the Generating Antibiotic Incentives Now Title of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, which president Barack Obama signed into law on July 9.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new usage for an Amgen drug, the drug maker said.

The biotech manufacturer announced the FDA approval of Prolia (denosumab) to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fracture. The drug already was approved for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

NEW YORK — French drug maker Sanofi announced a deal with the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development to develop drugs for tuberculosis.

The drug maker and the TB Alliance said the deal will include discovery and development of new drug compounds for the disease, which caused almost 1.5 million deaths globally and affected nearly 9 million in 2010, according to the World Health Organization.

MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Acton Pharmaceuticals for asthma, the company said Thursday.

The drug maker announced the approval of Aerospan (flunisolide HFA) inhalation aerosol as a maintenance treatment for asthma in patients aged 6 and older. The drug maker plans to launch the drug in early 2013.

ATLANTA — Atlanta-based reproductive and sexual health organization SisterLove and drug maker Merck have collaborated to create a mini-documentary and educational HIV/AIDS treatment and care resource.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Drug maker Vivus has released what it called the first new drug in 13 years for chronic weight management in adults.

The company announced the availability of Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) extended-release capsules, which it is formally introducing to medical professionals this week at the Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting in San Antonio.