Diabetes

PITTSBURGH — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic diabetes drug made by Mylan, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Mylan announced the approval of acarbose tablets in the 25-mg, 50-mg and 100-mg strengths. The drug is a version of Bayer’s Precose, used with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes.

The drug had sales of around $23 million during the 12-month period ended in September, according to IMS Health.

LONDON — Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline will take a legal charge of $3.4 billion related to its promotion of a controversial diabetes drug.

The British company said the charge related to an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado regarding sales and promotion of the drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) in spite of reports of the risk of heart attacks in patients taking it.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Thursday announced the expansion of its exclusive in-store nutritional navigation program, "Nutrition iQ," to include the fresh food departments and more robust nutrition information for the center store.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk has created an online resource for diabetes patients that educates them about Novo Nordisk drugs and devices, recipes and nutritional values, and allows them to connect with other patients.

CHICAGO — With the explosion in such mobile devices as smart phones, Walgreens is expanding its access across an ever-wider array of options for health consumers, president and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Companies that lower co-payments on prescription drugs while promoting disease management can lower their own healthcare costs, according to a three-year study commissioned by the Florida Health Care Coalition and published in the journal Health Affairs.

The study, which focused on patients with diabetes, found that companies combining disease-management programs with “value-based insurance design” can earn a return of $1.33 for every dollar they spend upfront on medication.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association is honoring Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for demonstrating leadership and commitment in stopping diabetes.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A program developed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators seeks to educate pharmacists on how to help teach patients to better manage their diabetes.

The Diabetes Accreditation Standards-Practical Applications program will be offered four times this year, the first one being held at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego Jan. 21 to 23, the groups said.