Regulatory and Washington

WASHINGTON — The retail industry added 37,600 jobs in October, and 295,000 year-over-year, according to a new report by a retail industry trade group.

Analysing numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Retail Federation said the increase represented 2.4% boost over 2012, and every sector of retail added jobs except clothing retailers, which lost 12,500 jobs. Overall, according to the BLS, the economy added 204,000 jobs in October, and the unemployment rate was 7.3%.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating epileptic seizures, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate), made by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, as an add-on medication for seizures in adults. About 200,000 new cases of seizures and epilepsy occur in the United States each year, according to the FDA.

WASHINGTON — Sanofi-Aventis has sued the Food and Drug Administration to keep its labeling for OTC Nasacort confidential in an effort to delay store brand competition until after the launch, according to an entry in the FDA Law Blog, the official blog of Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, published Thursday. 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved six generic versions of a drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of the first generic versions of Eisai's Aciphex (rabeprazole sodium) delayed-release tablets for patients aged 12 and older. The generic products are made by Dr. Reddy's Labs, Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA and Torrent Pharmaceuticals.

WASHINGTON — Boehringer Ingelheim SVP managed markets Jeff Huth has been elected by the National Pharmaceutical Council as chairman of the board for 2013-2014, the organization said Friday.

Huth has served as a member of the NPC's board since 2009 and has previously had the positions of vice chairman and treasurer. The NPC, founded in 1953, describes itself as a health policy research organization focused on the advancement of science and medical innovation.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — When the maker of a branded drug updates the safety information on its product labeling, makers of generic versions of that drug must wait until the Food and Drug Administration approves the new labeling before they can update theirs, but that could soon change under a rule proposed by the FDA.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — New Senate legislation introduced Tuesday that would restore consumers’ ability to use pre-tax dollars from flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to purchase over-the-counter medicines without first seeing a doctor has been jointly endorsed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association. 

NEW YORK — Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is holding up a vote on a measure that would strengthen regulations on compounding pharmacies in order to alter a provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to published reports.