New Products

VENTURA, Calif. — Aloe Cadabra has gained retail distribution at H-E-B.

The brand, which is touted as the first all-natural personal lubricant made with 95% certified organic aloe vera, also is available at Albertsons and The Vitamin Shoppe, the company said.

Aloe Cadabra is an all-natural line completely free of parabens, glycerin and harmful petroleum products. The line consists of three varieties made with aloe and vitamin E oil, along with such aromatic essential oils as Tahitian vanilla and French lavender, the company added.

BASEL, Switzerland — The Food and Drug Administration has extended its regulatory review period for Novartis' new drug application for its once-daily, long-term maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, the drug maker said.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries will bring their over-the-counter product lines and capabilities together in a deal they expect to be completed this fall.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Carex has introduced its Ultra Grip bath suction handle, the brand's first and only product with suction power.

Featuring dual-locking suction cups, the Ultra Grip bath suction handle holds tightly to any flat, smooth and nonporous surface. It also features indicators that change from red to green when the bar has been properly fastened.

Carex's new product will be available at select retailers next month, including Target, H-E-B, Fred Meyer and Shopko, for a suggested retail price of $14.99.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic drug for cardiovascular disease made by Qualitest Pharmaceuticals.

Qualitest announced Thursday the approval of toresmide tablets in the 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg and 100-mg strengths.

The drug is used to treat edema associated with congestive heart failure, kidney disease or hepatic disease, and also for hypertension.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Bristol-Myers Squibb said its late-stage clinical trial for a cancer treatment, which currently is under review by the Food and Drug Administration, achieved its primary endpoint.

The company said its phase-3 trial for investigational compound ipilimumab, designed for previously untreated patients that were diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, improved overall survival. The study compared the combination of ipilimumab 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy (dacarbazine) with chemotherapy alone.

PRINCETON — Sandoz has introduced an authorized generic version of a herpes treatment made by parent company Novartis, the company said Thursday.

Sandoz announced the launch of famciclovir tablets, an authorized generic of Famvir, used to treat genital herpes and cold sores in patients with healthy immune systems, and to treat shingles and herpes simplex infections of the skin and mucosa in patients with HIV.

Authorized generics are branded drugs sold under their generic chemical names at a reduced price, often through third-party companies.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a topical pain treatment made by Hi-Tech Pharmacal, the drug maker said Thursday.

The agency approved Hi-Tech’s sterile lidocaine jelly in the 2% strength, used for treating pain in procedures involving the urethra, painful urethritis and in endotracheal intubation.

Various versions of the drug had sales of $17 million in 2010, according to IMS Health.