• Actavis Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., and Warner Chilcott plc, of Dublin, each received a request for additional information from the FTC connected with the acquisition of Warner Chilcott by Actavis. The request extends the waiting period imposed by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 until 30 days after the companies have complied with that request. The companies said they will comply with the FTC's review and expect to close the transaction in the second half of 2013.

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, and Pfizer Inc., of New York, said the FDA accepted their supplemental new drug application for Eliquis (apixaban) for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis that could lead to pulmonary embolism in patients who have had hip or knee replacement surgery. The PDUFA date is March 15, 2014.

• Eisai Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, said Swissmedic, the regulatory agency for authorization of therapeutic products in Switzerland, approved Zonegran (zonisamid) as a monotherapy for newly diagnosed epilepsy in adults. The drug has already been approved as an add-on therapy.

• Galen US Inc., of Souderton, Pa., will acquire exclusive rights to market and sell Synera patch from Nuvo Research Inc., of Mississauga, Ontario, in the U.S. Sunera combines lidocaine, tetracaine and heat, and is approved by the FDA for local dermal analgesia. Galen paid Nuvo $4.5 million up front, and Nuvo will be eligible for royalties of 10 percent of net sales with a $5 million milestone payment upon gross annual sales of $25 million and another $5 million on gross sales of $50 million. Nuvo retains the right to develop and seek FDA approval for future additional indications such as musculoskeletal pain.