HEALTH

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has taken action against makers of prescription drugs for cough-cold and allergies that don’t have regulatory approval, the agency said Wednesday.

The action is part of the agency’s Unapproved Drugs Initiative, which seeks to remove from the market drugs that have not received approval. In many cases, the drugs were marketed before the FDA adopted its current regulatory standards.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Walgreens has won recognition from a company that designs medication therapy management programs.

Walgreens, which has invested heavily in their MTM programs, was named the top national chain by Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care’s MTM network.

Other honorees included Kerr Drug, Kroger and Supervalu, which were saluted for MTM services provided at one of their respective stores.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Following the warning letter it received last April, Perrigo announced that the Food and Drug Administration has arrived at the company's Allegan, Mich.-based facility for re-inspection.

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Dulcolax has teamed up with the Colon Cancer Alliance and American fashion designer Carmen Marc Valvo to encourage men and women to be proactive about their colon health by getting a colonoscopy.

PITTSBURGH and BENTONVILLE, Ark. — After providing its products to Rite Aid customers through a co-branded store format for more than a decade, GNC is making its foray into the warehouse club for the first time by offering select private-label products at Sam's Club locations.

GNC's products will boost Sam's Club's current health-and-wellness offerings by extending GNC's specialty retailing brand to mass-market customers.

NEW YORK — A weight-loss supplement has gained retail distribution in Weis Markets.

Bainbridge & Knight said its Lichi superfruit diet supplement, which is derived from 100% pure lychee berries and contains 17 active natural ingredients, will be available at Weis this month. The supermarket retailer operates stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.

LANGHORNE, Pa. — Insight Pharmaceuticals is strengthening its portfolio of over-the-counter products with its acquisition of a popular at-home pregnancy test.

Insight said that e.p.t. will join other Insight brands, including Sucrets, Nix, Bonine and Gentle Naturals. As the first FDA-approved, commercially available home pregnancy test, e.p.t. aligns with Insight's strategy to build "a significant portfolio of OTC and personal care products," Insight's CEO Gary Downing said.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has announced the launch of the 2011 To Your Health program, offering free preventive health screenings at more than 800 events in communities across the country. The program is designed to help Americans determine their risk for chronic diseases and get them on a path to better health.

The program will get under way in Houston on March 5, and continue in Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Miami.