Generics

ARLINGTON, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has announced former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates as the keynote speaker for the 2013 NACDS Annual Meeting, which will be held April 20 to 23 in Palm Beach, Fla.

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported a slight drop in influenza-like illnesses across the country, but even so the season is still going strong. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the week ended Jan. 12 was 4.6%, above the national baseline of 2.2%

WASHINGTON — More than 5,000 medicines are under development, of which 70% are potentially the first of their class, according to a new report.

NEW YORK — New York is hoping to battle the theft of highly addictive prescription drugs, such as Oxycontin, by stocking pharmacies with fake pill bottles that are fitted with GPS tracking devices, according to published reports.

The Washington Post reported that Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said, in prepared remarks provided before a conference Tuesday in California sponsored by former president Bill Clinton’s foundation, that the initiative was sparked by a series of crimes associated with the black market for prescription painkillers.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has set user fee rates for generic drug companies, the agency said Wednesday.

The FDA announced that it had published a notice in the Federal Register for companies that make finished dosage forms, meaning drugs in their final form, and active pharmaceutical ingredients, meaning the main ingredients of the drugs.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Wednesday shipped an additional 200,000 doses of flu vaccine to its pharmacies in the U.S.

"This additional quantity of flu vaccine will allow us to meet the needs of our customers to help them remain healthy this season," stated Darren Singer, SVP Pharmacy. "Our pharmacists administer the vaccine on a walk-in basis. The process is simple, convenient and affordable. We want all of our customers to have this protection."

The nation’s highest court has agreed to hear three cases stemming from the longstanding but controversial practice by which branded and generic drug makers agree to delay introduction of a me-too medicine as its brand-name counterpart nears the end of its patent protection. A ruling by the Supreme Court could alter the delicate balance sometimes struck between the two industries as they scramble to either delay or hasten the onset of generic competition for big-selling, patented drugs.

LINCOLN, Calif. — A drug-security product has won a drug-abuse prevention award.

The Locking Cap was named as one of the "Top 5 Technologies to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse" by the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence.

The cap is a four-digit combination-locking lid for prescription medication bottles. The maker of the cap, Cap-n-Lock, launched an updated version of the cap at the beginning of the year to attract the attention of shoppers.