Regulatory and Washington

NEW YORK — A bill that would implement federal tracking and tracing of drugs and strengthen federal regulations on pharmacy compounding has passed in the Senate and will go to President Barack Obama for his signature.

NEW YORK — The value of drugs approved in the United States this year could reach almost $19 billion in sales five years after their launch, exceeding the value of drugs approved in 2012, according to a new report.

LONDON — The Food and Drug Administration has given orphan drug designation to an experimental treatment for a rare form of epilepsy.

GW Pharmaceuticals said Friday that the FDA had granted the designation to Epidiolex for Dravet syndrome, a severe, drug-resistant form of epilepsy that begins in infancy. The drug is an oral liquid of a highly purified extract of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive molecule derived from the cannabis plant.

LAVAL, Quebec — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for fungal infections of the skin made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, the drug maker said Friday.

The company announced the FDA approval of Luzu (luliconazole) cream in the 1% strength for treatment of athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm in adults.

CHICAGO — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an OTC personal lubricant that helps couples conceive more easily.

Sasmar announced Friday the FDA approval of Conceive Plus, described as an isotonic, fertility-friendly personal lubricant that helps increase a woman's chances of getting pregnant naturally. The patent-pending formula is pH balanced to mimic fertile fluids and semen and contains minerals helpful to fertilization.

WASHINGTON — A Food and Drug Administration expert panel has voted to recommend approval for a drug to treat a circadian rhythm disorder that affects most people with total blindness.

NEW YORK — New cardiovascular health guidelines released this week could dampen the potential popularity of an up-and-coming class of cholesterol drugs, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — New legislation signed into law Wednesday encourages states to adopt laws allowing schools to maintain a supply of emergency treatments for life-threatening allergy attacks.

Barack Obama signed the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, under which schools could maintain a supply of epinephrine, which is the only first-line treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions, also known as anaphylaxis.

The legislation received praise from Mylan, a drug maker that produces EpiPen, a popular epinephrine injector pen.