News Briefs

For individuals who are dealing with menstrual cramps, a new OTC topical analgesic, transdermal, pain-relieving cream may help in aiding some discomfort.

Control, which is available through AvKare, is absorbed into the muscles, relaxes the nerves, and works in about one to four minutes, the company said.

Featured ingredients in Control include menthol, carbomer, cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, fragrance, glyceryl stearate, Laureth-4, Phenoxyethanol, purified water, stearic acid and triethanolamine, as well as butylene glycol, capryl glycol, chamomilla Recutita, flower extract, citrus Aurantium duclis peel oil, cocos Nucifera oil, eucalyptus globulus leaf oil and salvia officinalis extract.

In order to relieve or prevent a cramp, users can apply as much as needed to the area of the affected muscles and massage it onto the skin. Control can also be used safely with compression wraps or compression clothing with the concentration employed in its formula, the company said.

The National Community Pharmacists Association is strongly supporting the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, new legislation introduced today by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The bill would give the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general the ability to penalize and/or initiate legal action against PBMs for certain unfair or deceptive business practices in the commercial space.

“PBM-insurers have manipulated our complex healthcare system, so they can set their competitors’ prices, dictate their competitors’ reimbursements, use competitors’ data to steer patients to PBM-affiliated retail, specialty and mail-order pharmacies, and limit where and what consumers can buy,” said NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey.

“There are plenty of PBM actions for policymakers and regulators to address in order to ease the havoc they have wreaked on patients and small business independent pharmacies,” Hoey said. “NCPA is grateful to Sens. Cantwell and Grassley for their ongoing support of PBM reform. We’re proud to endorse their latest effort, the Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, and will work to help it advance.”

Cantwell is chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. Its subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security recently had a hearing that examined steps Congress can take to increase transparency in drug prices, require PBMs to operate fairly and ensure the FTC has the authority it needs to stop unfair practices in the prescription drug market. The Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act, which falls under the Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction, is a natural next step forward in the legislative process. Grassley, like Cantwell, has worked for years to bring more transparency into health care, limit anticompetitive PBM practices and benefit Americans through greater oversight, NCPA said.

SkinnyDipped is debuting its new refreshingly tangy, limited-edition flavor.

Strawberry lemonade almonds are thin-dipped in lightly sweetened yogurt and kissed with real lemon and berry, the Seattle-based company said.

Made without the use of artificial ingredients, the almonds are gluten free, non-GMO, kosher and contain almonds sourced from certified bee-friendly farms.

In addition to launching this new variety, SkinnyDipped is releasing a Beach, Don’t Kill My Vibe bundle, which includes strawberry lemonade and lemon bliss almonds, a tote bag, and branded stickers.

“Strawberry lemonade is the perfect extension for us since we’re all about creating amazingly delicious flavors that are both familiar and unique,” said Breezy Griffith, SkinnyDipped’s CEO and founder. “It’s an even more summery and nostalgic riff on lemon bliss, which people go crazy for! We’re already seeing a ton of excitement and can't wait for more people to try it.”

Consumers can find the strawberry lemonade almonds in a 3.5-oz. pouch that retails for $4.99 at such locations as HelloFresh, Kroger, H-E-B and Hungryroot. The Beach Don’t Kill My Vibe bundle retails for $14.99 at Amazon.

With its latest product, Meno, O Positiv is looking to help alleviate common symptoms of menopause.

Meno is an all-natural and hormone-free capsule formulated with such ingredients as black cohosh, ashwagandha, chaste berry, vitamin D3 and vitamin B6, the company said.

“Following a hysterectomy, menopause hit me like a ton of bricks,” said co-founder Mary Kay. “I was desperate to find a natural, hormone-free menopause solution, but there was nothing available. The effective, premium ingredients in Meno have truly helped me feel like myself again. It's possible to be unaffected by menopause symptoms, live your life and feel great — that’s the reason why we created Meno!”

Designed to help combat hot flashes, night sweats, occasional sleepiness and mood swings, Meno also may aid in improving sexual function, promoting calcium absorption and immunity support, the brand said.

Available in a bottle that contains 30 servings, O Positiv’s Meno retails for $34.99 online.

Lenny & Larry’s wants to help consumers get a jump-start on their morning nutrition with a breakfast bar that’s packed with protein and probiotics.

Complete Kickstart Bar, a soft and chewy breakfast bar, contains 8 g of plant-based protein, probiotics for immune support and 14 g of whole grains. In addition, the vegan and kosher bar is Non-GMO Project Verified and made without the use of high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, the company said.

“We’re thrilled to present a new breakfast option for consumers based on the market’s demand for plant-based protein and immunity support,” said Lenny & Larry’s CEO Jolie Weber. “Lenny & Larry’s continues to be an innovative brand that creates new products based on unmet consumer needs. Receiving feedback from our consumers is crucial to our business and part of our brand’s commitment to research and development, setting us apart from others in the category.”

The bar is available in four flavors — blueberry lemon, apple cinnamon, banana chocolate chip and cranberry white chocolate-flavored chip. Consumers can find the apple cinnamon and blueberry lemon flavors on the company’s website in a four-count box that retails for $5.49. Kroger will also carry the two flavors beginning June 12.

Dove is introducing a new line of personal care products that are made with 99% natural origin ingredients and 100% natural origin fragrances from essential oils.

The new Care by Plants Deodorant range is the brand’s first ever natural-origin, plant-based deodorant, which features a distinct formula that harnesses the power of plants combined with its care expertise, the company said.

Made with formulas that use the same testing methodologies as the rest of Dove products, the new line of deodorants also works to hydrate and restore the skin’s moisture for renewed radiance and softness, according to Dove.

Available in eucalyptus, lemongrass, sandalwood and tea tree fragrances, the vegan line, which is free of parabens and aluminum, retails for $9.99 each.