HEALTH

AUSTIN, Texas — British researchers have concluded that a Swiss echinacea extract is both safe and effective in helping to prevent symptoms of the common cold, according to a study published in American Botanical Council's peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram. 

CHICO, Calif. — Star Nutrition on Wednesday added the TEC-3 arm and calf sleeves to its Incrediwear line. Engineered from an Italian 3-D weaving machine and utilizing Carbonized Charcoal Anion Technology, the 360-thread count TEC-3 is designed to increase circulation to the arms and calves, while decreasing fatigue, swelling and recovery time.

MILPITAS, Calif. — Blood glucose monitoring is associated with reduced A1C levels and greater adherence to medication in Type 2 diabetes patients who do not take insulin, according to a study published in the September issue of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Healthcare product sales through the nation’s primary healthcare distributors hit a record high of $294 billion in 2011, according to the 2012-2013 HDMA Factbook released Friday. Specifically, pharmaceutical products moved by distributors represent approximately 90% of sales in the United States.

ATLANTA, Ga. — SoloHealth on Thursday announced it has plans in place to expand its FDA-approved SoloHealth Station health-and-wellness digital kiosks to more than 2,500 store locations by mid-2013, scaling to more than 4,000 by 2014. 

 SWIFTWATER, Pa. — Sanofi Pasteur on Thursday announced it has filed for approval of a four-strain flu shot to the Food and Drug Administration. An action date is anticipated in the second quarter of 2013. 

AKRON, Ohio — Gojo Industries on Wednesday announced the results of a series of independent lab studies testing the ability of instant hand sanitizers to meet Food and Drug Administration Healthcare Personnel Handwash germ kill requirements at various dosage levels. The studies, which included more than 20 different hand sanitizers, concluded that the patent-pending Purell Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer formulation is the only one to meet FDA germ kill requirements with a single 1.2-mL dispense.

VICTORIA, Australia — Sales of Swisse Ultivite multivitamins in the Australian and Asian markets have been a big driver behind overall sales, according to a Nielsen report cited by the company. 

Across both Australia and Asia, VMS sales were up 16% to $197 million for the year ended June 2012. Leading the charge was Suisse Ultivite, which grew by more than 40% "thanks to a high ad spend and launches that boost the profile of the whole range,” Nielsen said.