HEALTH

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands has rejected an unsolicited proposal from Genomma Lab, which seeks to acquire the over-the-counter and household cleaning products maker for $16.60 per share in cash, calling the deal inadequate, opportunistic and highly conditional.

WASHINGTON — West Virginia has become the 19th state to require pharmacists and other retailers to be connected through the National Precursor Log Exchange system with the passage of legislation that requires real-time, stop-sale technology to enable the state's pharmacists to block illegal pseudoephedrine purchases right at the point of sale and provide law enforcement with up-to-the minute criminal data.

LAS VEGAS — Melville, N.Y.-based Ascent Consumer Products late last month introduced a new delivery form to the nasal saline category — a dry salt inhaler branded InHalo — as a new solution to help break up mucous and promote nasal and bronchial drainage at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS conference held here.

WASHINGTON — A Food and Drug Administration panel will meet Monday to discuss a class of drugs designed to treat chronic painful conditions that currently are under development and the safety issues possibly related to the drugs.

LAS VEGAS — Longhorne, Pa.-based Scrips America launched a new children's fever reducer at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS last week called Children's RapiMed.

The new product, shipping in June, features a single-ingredient (acetaminophen) small rapid-melt tablet in both bubblegum and grape flavors. The product will be available in two strengths — an 80-mg acetaminophen for children between the ages of 2 years and 6 years and a 160-mg acetaminophen for children between the ages of 6 years and 11 years.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — In excess of $102 billion. That's the value over-the-counter medicine delivers to the U.S. healthcare system, Consumer Healthcare Products Association leaders shared with attendees of the CHPA Annual Executive Conference held here Friday morning.

LAS VEGAS — Kids Line last year made its first foray from children's bedding into the healthcare space with a line of functional humidifiers that better fit the decor of a child's room. Last week, the Los Angeles-based company improved upon that offering through its licensing relationship with Disney and debuted a complete line of humidifiers featuring Disney characters at the ECRM Cough & Cold and Allergy EPPS.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Friday morning honored longtime industry veteran Pat Lonergan, co-founder of Numark Labs, with its Ivan D. Combe Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in the advancement of the business of over-the-counter medicines.