Regulatory and Washington

ATLANTA — Many states need to improve healthy food access to promote healthy eating habits and curb obesity among children, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC's "2011 Children's Food Environment State Indicator Report" found that 32-out-of-50 states (along with the District of Columbia) scored at or below the national average for the Modified Retail Food Environment Index, a measure of the proportion of food retailers that typically sell healthy foods within a state.

WASHINGTON — Pharmacy technicians certified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board maximize their training experiences at the Department of Defense Military Education and Training Campus in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the PTCB said.

Prior to graduating, students in the METC Pharmacy Technician Training Program are encouraged to take the PTCB’s Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam and gain national recognition as certified pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy techs trained at the METC work in pharmacies operated by the federal government and the military.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour recently signed into law the Mississippi Pharmacy Practice Act, which establishes oversight of pharmacy benefit managers (defined as nonresident pharmacies) by the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy.

The law goes into effect July 1.

INDIANAPOLIS — Drug maker Eli Lilly will get at least two more years of patent exclusivity on a drug used to treat depression, anxiety and pain resulting from diabetic neuropathy and fibromyalgia, thanks to a court order issued Wednesday.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana ruled to forbid Wockhardt and other generic drug companies from selling generic versions of Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) until patent protection expires, which is expected to occur in June 2013.

BALTIMORE — The American Pain Foundation on Wednesday launched new information and resources on pain medication safety for acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as part of its PainSafe educational initiative.

The new information will be launched with a national public service announcement emphasizing the safe use of pain treatment options, particularly medications containing NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) and acetaminophen (Tylenol and APAP).

LIVINGSTON and PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A drug designed to reduce the risk of premature birth among pregnant women has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval.

NEW YORK — The Food and Drug Administration is working on creating new and simplified drug information sheets for consumers to replace the multipage and sometimes labyrinthine packets supplied with drugs at retail pharmacies, according to published reports.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the agency was testing the information sheets while the U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention was developing a new standard for drug labels.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is hosting its second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this weekend, the agency said.