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SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new influenza vaccine formulation for the 2011-2012 flu season, the agency said Monday.

The FDA said six manufacturers are licensed to produce vaccines. These include GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, manufacturing Fluarix; CSL Limited, manufacturing Afluria; ID Biomedical, manufacturing FluLaval; MedImmune Vaccines, manufacturing FluMist; Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, manufacturing Fluvirin; and Sanofi Pasteur, manufacturing Fluzone.

INDIANAPOLIS — A statin made by Eli Lilly and Kowa Pharmaceuticals America appears to work well with drugs used to treat HIV, according to a study presented at the sixth International AIDS Society conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome.

The study was designed to investigate potential interactions between Livalo (pitavastatin) and Abbott’s antiretroviral protease inhibitor Kaletra (lopinavir and ritonavir). The study found that each drug had only a minimal effect on the other.

PHILADELPHIA — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Shire for treating ulcerative colitis, the British drug maker said Monday.

Shire announced the approval of Lialda (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets for the maintenance of remission in patients with the disease.

The drug was already approved for inducing remission in patients with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory disease that affects the colon and causes chronic inflammation, sores and ulcers.

SYDNEY — Australian drug maker QRxPharma is seeking approval for a drug that combines two painkillers in one pill, the company said Monday.

QRxPharma announced that it had filed a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for MoxDuo IR (morphine and oxycodone). The drug is designed to release both drugs into the body immediately.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, on Monday announced that it has begun shipping its 2011-2012 Fluzone influenza virus vaccine in the United States. This shipment represents the first of approximately 70 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine the company plans to deliver to the United States in the upcoming season.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Upsher-Smith Labs has started a late-stage clinical trial of a drug for treating patients with a rare and severe form of epilepsy, the drug maker said Monday.

FRAZER, Pa. — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries got the go-ahead from Cephalon’s shareholders to acquire the Frazer, Pa.-based company in a deal worth $6.8 billion.

Teva came out as the front-runner to purchase Cephalon in May, when the drug maker spurned a takeover bid by Mississauga, Ontario-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which had offered $5.7 billion in March.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — A team comprised of scientists from drug maker Merck and several U.S. universities will look for ways to eradicate HIV, Merck said.