Retail Clinics

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Highlighting the more than 200,000 people hospitalized as a result of complications from the flu, Fred’s pharmacy announced Tuesday that it will be offering flu vaccines to help patients proactively protect against the flu. 

 

Fred’s said that its pharmacists would work with patients to figure out which version of the flu vaccine is best for them. The company also noted that flu vaccines are free with most insurance plans, though copays may apply. 

 

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Hisamitsu America has launched the new Salonpas Lidocaine 4% Pain Relieving Gel-Patch, the company announced Monday. The patch includes the maximum strength lidocaine available without a prescription and uses a proprietary hydro-gel technology to soothe aggravated nerves, the company said.

 

NEW YORK — Napo Pharmaceuticals on Thursday announced the launch of its Mytesi (crofelemer), approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for non-infectious diarrhea in patients with HIV/AIDS on retroviral therapy. The active ingredient is a plant-based drug extracted from the red bark sap of a tree in the Amazon, for which Napo has set up a sustainable harvesting program. 

 

HARTFORD, Conn. — Merck and Aetna have entered into a value-based agreement for Merck’s Type  diabetes medications Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet (sitagliptin plus metformin. The contract will see Merck’s rebates for the drugs based partly on their ability to help Aetna’s commercial members with Type 2 diabetes achieve or maintain treatment goals. 

 

FDA approves Flublok Quadrivalent flu vaccine

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Protein Sciences’s Flublok Quadrivalent flu vaccine, the company announced Wednesday. The vaccine protects against four strains of influenza, three of which are found in trivalent Flublok alongside a fourth strain. 

 

SAN FRANCISCO — Weight loss clinics will soon be coming to several Bay Area Safeway stores. Safeway, alongside Costa Mesa, Calif.-based weight loss clinic chain Lean for Life By Lindora Clinic, announced Friday that Lean for Life by Lindora Clinics will be opening on Oct. 10 at five Safeway stores in Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Menlo Park and San Jose. 

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved Orexo’s Zubsolv (buprenorphine 0.7 mg/naloxone 0.18 mg) sublingual tablets, the company announced Thursday. The drug is indicated to treat patients with opioid dependence. 

 

With this approval, Orexo now has FDA approval for six dosage strength tablets: 11.4 mg buprenorphine/2.9 mg naloxone, 8.6 mg/2.1 mg, 5.7 mg/1.5 mg, 2.9 mg/0.71 mg, 1.4 mg/0.36 mg and 0.7 mg/0.18 mg.