Regulatory and Washington

WASHINGTON — An organization that promotes efforts to stop prescription drug abuse announced Tuesday the release of a mobile app that directs users to places where they can safely get rid of unwanted and unused medications.

The American Medicine Chest Challenge said the AMCC Rx Drop app, sponsored by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association, links to the AMCC's directory of local, county and state law enforcement-sponsored permanent collection sites around the country. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

NEW YORK — A generic version of a schizophrenia drug made by Otsuka Holdings and Bristol-Myers Squibb can't be launched until April 2015, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the validity of patents covering Abilify (aripiprazole) in the two companies' lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Apotex.

According to IMS Health, Abilify was the fourth top-selling drug in the United States in 2011, with sales of $5.2 billion.

WASHINGTON — The battle for public opinion and legislative sway was in full swing Monday as executives from the National Community Pharmacists Association lobbied congressional leaders regarding several pieces of "pro-patient, pro-pharmacist legislation." To counter that effort, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association issued some marketing firepower of its own.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association today expressed concerns in a letter sent to Senate Armed Services Committee and House Armed Services Committee leaders over the potential impact of the administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget on Tricare beneficiaries and community pharmacy.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted on Monday comments to the Food and Drug Administration regarding its position on the “new paradigm” for a third class of drugs.

The comments were submitted to the FDA in conjunction with the agency’s hearing titled, “Using Innovative Technologies and Other Conditions of Safe Use to Expand Which Drug Products Can Be Considered Nonprescription.”

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state health officials have declared an emergency state action to slow the outbreak of whooping cough, also known as pertussis.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The number of new drug shortages has been halved as early notifications from manufacturers of potential shortages have increased sixfold, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration wrote Thursday.

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Thursday provided an update around pseudoephedrine legislation in its "CHPA Executive Newsletter," which is published monthly.

A bill supporting the use of the National Precursor Log Exchange is scheduled to be heard by Colorado's Senate Judiciary Committee on May 4 following a House vote of 50-14 to pass the bill.

In Hawaii, a bill to adopt NPLEx is awaiting Gov. Neil Abercrombie's signature. If signed, Hawaii would become the 22nd NPLEx state.