HEALTH

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Two Food and Drug Administration advisory committees on Wednesday unanimously voted in favor of mandating weight-based dosing for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years who are being administered acetaminophen.

CHICAGO — Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, allegedly is a suspect in the 1982 Tylenol poisonings in the Chicago area that killed seven people, according to published reports.

The Tylenol poisonings, in which someone placed potassium cyanide in with the pain relievers on store shelves, prompted the introduction of tamper-proof packaging for many over-the-counter medicines.

WATERTOWN, Mass. — For the second consecutive year, the Exergen temporal artery thermometer outsold all other brands at retailers nationwide, Exergen announced Thursday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Cancer drugs are expected to see sharp increases in spending and use by 2013, according to the latest drug trend report by pharmacy benefit manager Medco Health Solutions.

The overall drug trend for 2010 was 3.7%, lowered by higher rates of generic drug dispensing; more than 71% of drugs dispensed were generics. Specialty drugs, mostly branded biologics, accounted for 70.1% of the overall drug trend, with especially strong growth in cancer drugs, whose drug trend reached 21.2%.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Global spending on medicines will reach nearly $1.1 trillion by 2015, according to a new study by market research firm IMS Health.

DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor on Wednesday announced its research partnership with WellDoc — a healthcare company that develops technology solutions to improve chronic disease management outcomes and reduce healthcare costs — around integrating WellDoc services into Ford vehicles through the automaker’s SYNC voice-activated in-car connectivity system.

That SYNC system also will enable access to SDI’s Pollen.com Allergy Alert application, Ford announced Wednesday.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Monday announced that it has received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its abbreviated new drug application for over-the-counter ranitidine 150 (regular and cool mint), a generic version of Zantac 150.

Zantac 150 has annual sales of approximately $110 million, as measured by SymphonyIRI Group, Perrigo reported.

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Nordic Naturals on Tuesday announced the company has earned certification from NSF International, verifying that its new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design corporate headquarters complies with good manufacturing practices.

"NSF's exceptional commitment to public safety is in line with our own values and Nordic Naturals' mission to deliver pure, safe and effective omega oils worldwide,” stated Joar Opheim, Nordic CEO.