News Briefs

Summer is just around the corner, and Babyganics is offering the proper sun protection for children and toddlers.

The San Francisco-based company is expanding its mineral sunscreen line with two new products that are designed for easy application:

• B Kids SPF 50 Non-Aerosol Sunscreen Spray, featuring a continuous mist, is designed for application on such larger body parts as arms, backs and legs; and
• Babyganics Kids Roll On 50 SPF, ideal for those itty-bitty-tricky-to-reach places, the rollerball is able to run in easily into such areas as ear lobes and the tops of feet to provide smooth coverage.

Made with an all mineral active ingredient formula that is free of parabens, phthalates, PABA, fragrances and nanoparticles, each product offers broad-spectrum SPF 50 UVA/UVB protection. They are also sweat- and water-resistant up to 80 minutes, dermatologist tested, pediatrician tested, non-allergenic, tear-free and not tested on animals, the company said.

Babyganics’ new mineral sunscreen spray and roll-on are available online, as well as at retailers nationwide.

Ancient Nutrition is debuting its new Herbal Cider Vinegar product, which is set to be available in tincture, gummies and capsule formats.

The formula contains the time-honored genius of apple cider vinegar plus a regenerative organic-certified superfood blend of 10 fermented and antioxidant-rich herbs, spices and berries, the Nashville, Tenn.-based company said.

Included in the product’s formulation is organic and uncultured apple cider vinegar that is infused with fermented herbs, spices and berries such as turmeric, goji berry, sumac berry, guava, passionfruit, elderberry fruit, moringa leaf, holy basil leaf, feijoa and key lime.

“Apple cider vinegar has been used for its health-promoting benefits for centuries. Using the power of apple cider vinegar to amplify the benefits of time-honored and revered herbs and spices creates an incredible synergy. Simply put, Herbal Cider Vinegar takes ACV and herbs to the next level!” said co-founder of Ancient Nutrition Dr. Josh Axe. “Fermenting traditional superfoods such as herbs, spices, roots and berries in a raw vinegar culture is an ancient process that is an effective way to capture their beneficial properties. That’s what makes our Herbal Cider Vinegar a one-of-a-kind product that has benefits beyond measure.”

In addition, the Herbal Cider Vinegar product has also been designed to provide users with 3-in-1 benefits that include supporting healthy microbial balance, promoting healthy antioxidant levels, supporting healthy weight management, supporting healthy body composition, promoting cardiovascular health and function, and promoting healthy nutrient metabolism, the company said.

The Herbal Cider Vinegar capsules, tinctures and gummies retail for $24.95 each and will be available for purchase on Ancient Nutrition’s website and Amazon.

The majority of responding pharmacists (66%) would be prepared to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children under 5 years old if authorized to do so, according to a recent survey of pharmacists conducted by the American Pharmacists Association.

Nearly half of respondents (44%) said they are currently planning to vaccinate based on community needs and abilities of pharmacy teams following FDA and CDC authorization and guidance. Pharmacists’ level of vaccination engagement for this age group will be an individual practice and practitioner decision. As always, pharmacists stand ready to work with other immunization stakeholders, APhA said.

“The data show that pharmacists are again poised to contribute to our nation’s health efforts and vaccinate all Americans against COVID-19,” said Scott Knoer, APhA executive vice president and CEO. “This has been true since the first COVID-19 vaccines arrived in December 2020, and it continues to be the case today despite the enormous challenges facing pharmacists in every practice venue.”

CDC recently reported that 70% of COVID-19 vaccinations have occurred in pharmacies, including 60% of adolescent vaccinations and 46% of vaccinations in children 5 to 11 years old.

The survey of 612 pharmacists was conducted from Feb. 12, 2022 to March 1, 2022, with respondents from all regions of the country and representing a wide range of practice types, including chain pharmacies, independent pharmacies and supermarket pharmacies. The margin of error in this survey is ±3.9% at the 95% confidence level.

Hyland’s Naturals is unveiling a new line of gummies that fall into the vitamins, minerals and supplements category.

Featuring four new preventive health supplements for adults and children, the organic and vegan gummies are formulated to target specific health goals that range from immune support and stress relief to digestive health, the company said.

“Hyland’s Naturals has been a trusted wellness brand with families for more than a century, and we’re thrilled to now offer customers our high-quality gummy supplements for preventative health,” said Will Righeimer, CEO of Hyland’s Naturals. “Not only do our gummy supplements taste delicious, but they are also manufactured in the USA to ensure the highest level of safety and quality for our consumers.”

The new gummies include:

• Organic Elderberry Plus, a daily immune support product that contains black elderberry, vitamin C and zinc;
• Kids Organic Elderberry Plus, a daily immune support supplement with organic black elderberry, vitamin C and zinc;
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Blast, a supplement formulated to support digestive health with such antioxidants as apple cider vinegar; and
• Stress Busters, made with L-theanine, lemon balm and chamomile. It provides a nondrowsy solution to quiet the mind for relaxation or focus.

Consumers can find Hyland’s Naturals’ new supplements at more than 15,000 retail locations, six countries and all major e-commerce sites this quarter, the brand said.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted Roche a label extension for Evrysdi (risdiplam) to include babies under two months old with spinal muscular atrophy.

SMA is a severe, progressive neuromuscular disease that can be fatal. It affects approximately one in 10,000 babies and is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA is caused by a mutation of the survival motor neuron 1 gene, which leads to a deficiency of SMN protein. This protein is found throughout the body and is essential to the function of nerves that control muscles and movement. Without it, nerve cells cannot function correctly, leading to muscle weakness over time. Depending on the type of SMA, an individual’s physical strength and their ability to walk, eat or breathe can be significantly diminished or lost.

“The approval of Evrysdi for pre-symptomatic babies is particularly important, as early treatment of SMA, before symptoms start to arise, can help babies to achieve motor milestones,” said Richard Finkel, Rainbowfish principal investigator and director of the Experimental Neuroscience Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “With the inclusion of SMA in newborn screening programs, this approval provides the opportunity to start treating at home with Evrysdi soon after the diagnosis is confirmed.”

“The priority review and subsequent approval of Evrysdi for babies under two months of age speaks to the urgent ongoing need for additional treatment options for babies with SMA,” said Levi Garraway, Roche’s chief medical officer and head of global product development. “Because of its efficacy in multiple settings, Evrysdi is now available for people with SMA from pre-symptomatic newborns to older adults. We are proud of this achievement, which has the potential to make a real difference to those living with SMA and their caregivers.”

Evrysdi is a survival motor neuron 2 splicing modifier designed to treat SMA caused by mutations in chromosome 5q that lead to SMN protein deficiency. Evrysdi is administered daily at home in liquid form by mouth or by feeding tube.

Dr. Reddy’s is offering pemetrexed for injection.

Alimta is approved in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) immunotherapy and platinum chemotherapy (carboplatin or cisplatin, two other chemotherapy drugs) as the first treatment for nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer that has spread with no abnormal EGFR or ALK genes.

The medication is the generic of Eli Lilly’s Alimta (pemetrexed for injection).

The Alimta brand and generic had a market value of approximately $1.2 billion for the most recent 12 months ending in March 2022, according to IQVIA.

Dr. Reddy’s pemetrexed for injection is supplied in 100 mg and 500 mg single-dose vials.