News Briefs

Califia Farms is adding a new dairy-free product to its portfolio — Heavy Whip.

The plant-based swap for heavy whipping cream is unflavored and unsweetened, and can be used exactly as dairy-heavy whipping cream when cooking, the Los Angeles-based company said.

Made from a coconut oil base, Califia Farms’ Heavy Whip comes in a 16.9-oz. carton that can be found in the refrigerated aisle of Whole Foods Markets and Sprouts Farmers Market among other retailers for a suggested retail price of $4.89.

Haribo has a brand-new triple-layered gummy with a soft and sweet chew.

Berry Clouds, which come in cloud shapes that highlight their soft and fluffy texture, are available in a mixed assortment that includes blueberry, wildberry and strawberry flavors.

“We know that gummi fans are looking for texture and flavor excitement, so we created an unexpected treat that delivered on both,” said Rick LaBerge, chief commercial officer at Haribo of America. “The result is an innovative, whimsical take on gummi shapes that are sure to spark joy for Haribo fans of all ages, especially on National Candy Day.”

Consumers can find Haribo’s Berry Clouds available for purchase in small, medium and large peg bags at major retailers across the nation.

General Mills is continuing its multi-year collaboration with Marvel by releasing two fruit-flavored snacks.

Inspired by its superhero characters, new launches consumers can be on the lookout for include:

• Marvel Avengers Character Fruit Snacks: Gummy treats made without artificial flavors, featured characters include Black Panther, Iron Man and Thor; and
• Black Panther Fruit Roll-Ups: Available in strawberry sensation and blue raspberry flavors, each features Black Panther tongue tattoos on each roll.

Consumers can find the Marvel Avengers Character Fruit Snacks and Black Panther Fruit Roll-Ups at retailers nationwide.

Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, Hostess Brands is putting a seasonal twist on four of its classic and iconic snacks.

New launches from the brand include Holiday HoHos, Holiday CupCakes, Mint Chocolate Flavored Twinkies and Hot Cocoa & Marshmallow Flavored Donettes.

“With the holiday season right around the corner, consumers are anticipating the return of special flavors that capture the joy, delight and traditions of the season,” said Christopher Balach, general manager of Hostess Brands. “From the classic chocolate sponge cake and refreshing mint flavor of our Mint Chocolate Flavored Twinkies to the rich and creamy hot chocolate flavor of our Hot Cocoa & Marshmallow Flavored Donettes, we think consumers will love our holiday snacks.”

Each of Hostess’ seasonal snacks will be available for a limited time in a multi-pack at grocery retailers nationwide.  

Pharmacy Quality Solutions is releasing the next-generation EQUIPP platform, which enables pharmacy-based patient care for nearly 95% of pharmacies across the country.

The redesigned EQUIPP facilitates pharmacies’ efforts to guide performance improvement.

The re-architected EQUIPP platform now provides a better user experience and makes it even easier for pharmacists to guide medication-related performance improvement. It also allows PQS to expand clinical service opportunities for pharmacies, the company said. 

“EQUIPP was rebuilt from the ground up to make it straightforward for our users to deliver quality performance,” said PQS chief operating officer Nancy Chung. “We listened to our partners and made the platform easier to navigate, so data could be accessed quickly and displayed in a way that can be clearly understood by our users."

New EQUIPP highlights include:

• New patient-centered view: users can see patients with multiple measures in one view;
• All patients are listed for each measure, not just outliers, so pharmacists can identify patients before they negatively impact performance;
• Easier ways to prioritize patient opportunities, filter and customize the dashboard;
• Streamlined intervention coordination: ability to print, document, and coordinate care; and
• Access EQUIPP your way via desktop, tablet, or phone.

“As a neutral intermediary who supports the evolution towards value-based care, we align payers and providers to enhance quality and improve outcomes for their shared patients,” said PQS CEO Todd Sega. “When we redesigned EQUIPP, we utilized a more flexible architecture that has allowed us to create more pay-for-performance and value-based programs to help our partners close gaps in patient care, deliver enhanced services, and prepare for the shifting role of pharmacies as healthcare destinations.”

 

 

Gilead Sciences has received the Food and Drug Administration’s green light for Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide) 25 mg tablets as a once-daily treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in pediatric patients aged 12 years old and older with compensated liver disease.

Vemlidy is a novel, targeted prodrug of tenofovir that was previously approved by the FDA in 2016 as a once-daily treatment for adults with chronic HBV infection with compensated liver disease. It is recommended as a preferred or first-line treatment for adults with chronic HBV with compensated liver disease in guidelines from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and European Association for the Study of the Liver.

“Chronic hepatitis B can have a significant long-term health impact on children, including the development of liver cancer later in life if the disease is left untreated, which is compounded by treatment challenges in this population,” said Kathleen Schwarz, pediatric gastroenterologist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, an investigator in the Vemlidy clinical trial. “As a clinician, I recognize the critical importance of treating this disease as quickly as possible to help avoid complications and potential damage to the liver. In the clinical trial, we saw that tenofovir alafenamide may represent an effective treatment option for people as young as 12 years of age living with this chronic disease.”

“While pediatric hepatitis B prevalence has dropped significantly in the U.S., children who develop chronic hepatitis B following an acute infection can experience lifelong health impact,” Merdad Parsey, chief medical officer at Gilead Sciences, said. “Gilead is focused on meeting the biggest challenges in liver disease and impacting the course of disease. With an established safety profile and once-daily dosing, Vemlidy provides physicians a new option to address the treatment needs of pediatric patients living with hepatitis B.”