CONSUMER NEWS

Syntex Corp., FDA Reach Agreement: The agreement settles terms of a consent decree regarding advertising and promotional activities for an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis pain. Syntex said the Food and Drug Administration contended that the since-discontinued advertising and promotions for Naprosyn misrepresented that the drug has a disease-modifying effect, such as halting the progression of joint degeneration. Under terms of the decree, the company said it agreed, without admission of any wrongdoing, to sponsor a remedial advertising campaign, to pay the FDA’s costs of investigating two disputed ad campaigns and to submit in advance to the FDA future promotional materials for Naprosyn for two years, among other conditions.