Cough-Cold and Flu

ATLANTA — It appears this year's flu season will officially wind down toward the beginning of March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported a decline in influenza activity, though nationwide it's still above the national baseline. 

No states reported high influenza like illness activity, the CDC noted, and seven states experienced moderate ILI activity (Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, Texas and Virginia).

LOS ANGELES — Hyland's recently added three line extensions to its portfolio of cough-cold products — both an adult and pediatric mucus expectorant and a nighttime option for toddlers. Mucus relief accounts for 14% of the cough-cold category, Hyland's reported, citing Nielsen data for the 52 weeks ended Jan. 18 across all channels. 

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — O'Connor Companies' new product GoGargle! was named Best New Product last week at the ECRM Cough-Cold, Analgesics and Allergy meeting. GoGargle! is an effervescent salt gargle that soothes and moisturizes dry and irritated throats in a new way. 

ATLANTA — Only one-third of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 have gotten their flu shot this season, which is a contributing factor to why this year's flu activity has hit young adults particularly hard, according to Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Senate on Tuesday voted 25-to-9 to make pseudoephedrine a Schedule IV prescription drug and exempt medicines that can’t easily be diverted to methamphetamine, according to published reports. A similar bill is being considered by the West Virginia House of Delegates.

According to reports, the two exceptions to the prescription-only requirement would include Acura Pharmaceuticals' Nexafed and Westport Pharmaceuticals' Zephrex-D. 

ATLANTA — While flu activity declined slightly from the week prior, incidence of influenza-like illness rates remained above the national baseline for the week ended Feb. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

Six states were still experiencing high ILI activity, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.

SLOUGH, England — Reckitt Benckiser has line extended its Mucinex franchise into the year-round allergy sector with Mucinex Allergy, Heather Allen, Reckitt Benckiser EVP category development, told analysts Wednesday. 

"Super fantastic launch in the U.S.," she said. "Allergy is a $2.5 billion market in the U.S. More than 75% of Mucinex users also take an allergy treatment, and now, we're able to offer them Mucinex Allergy, maximum strength, non-drowsy antihistamine, acts fast and lasts for 24 hours."

ATLANTA — According to last week’s FluView report, released Friday, influenza activity remains elevated nationally. Flu activity is likely to continue for several more weeks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded.

For the week of Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, the national proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness decreased slightly for the fifth week, but remains above the national baseline. All 10 regions continue to report ILI activity above their region-specific baseline level.