Chain Drug Review articles from August 2005

Chain Drug Review archives from August 2005

Walgreens Rx strike ends; differences still exist.(National Pharmacists Association forges an alliance with United Steelworkers of America)(strike did not win the concessions it aimed at)
August 15, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Pharmacists at 400 Walgreens Co. stores in greater Chicago voted to end their three-week-old strike against the drug chain late last month. While the National Pharmacists Association (NPA), which represents the more than...

NACDS nixes limiting role of pharmacy.(The National Association of Chain Drug Stores )(Pharmaceutical Care Management Association objects to pharmacists educating patients about prescription drug plans )
August 15, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is concerned that some pharmacy benefits management companies (PBMs) want to limit what community pharmacists can tell patients about the various plans that will provide the...

In-store clinics are a go at two more key chains.(Albertsons Inc pairs up with Take Care Health Systems LLC )(Duane Reade Inc. has a patnership with InterFit Health Partner )
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Albertsons Inc. and Duane Reade Inc. have become the latest retail pharmacy operators to open in-store clinics. Albertsons will test Take Care Health Systems LLC clinics in six Osco Drug stores in greater Kansas City. Duane...

Next up for Rite Aid is new direction in beauty.(Rite Aid Corp. updates its beauty departments)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. is making a dramatic effort to upgrade its beauty department. Earlier this year the drug chain debuted its "Customer World" prototype, which features a four-sided central beauty area in the center of the...

Wal-Mart gets into fray over Medicare Rx.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Humana Inc. to provide Medicare beneficiaries a Part D prescription drug plan )
August 15, 2005... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Humana Inc. have teamed up to provide Medicare beneficiaries a Part D prescription drug plan (PDP). The first step in launching the PDP, which will become effective when the federally funded...

Elephant Pharmacy names executives.(Kathi Lentzsch, Jack Murphy)(appointments)(three retail outlets to be opened in this year)
August 15, 2005... BERKELEY, Calif. -- As it looks to expand beyond its single store here, Elephant Pharmacy has named two new executives to run the company. Kathi Lentzsch, a 20-year retailing veteran, replaces Elephant founder and chairman Stuart Skorman as...

Pharmacy wakes up to mail-order threat.(chain pharmacy stores realise the influence of mail-order pharmacy over their business)
August 15, 2005... In the late 1960s and early '70s the transformation of indemnified prescription drug coverage to service delivery by community pharmacies submitting claims directly to claims processors was to be the beginning of mail-order pharmacy as we know...

Despite critics Crawford confirmed.(Lester Crawford)(appointments)(Food and Drug Administration)
August 15, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Lester Crawford has been confirmed as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Senators gave overwhelming approval to the agency veteran by a 78-16 vote. Crawford had served as acting commissioner for the past year...

Walgreens, Pepsi in baseball promo.(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- PepsiCo Inc. and Walgreen Co. have teamed up on a contest that will let one shopper throw the ceremonial first pitch at this year's Major League Baseball World Series. The grand prize winner in the contest, which began on...

Retailers contend Visa fees are way out of line.(Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy and six other companies sue Visa USA Inc. on price fixing and antitrust law violations)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Albertsons Inc., Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy and Walgreen Co. are among six retailers suing Visa USA Inc. over credit card fees. The retailers filed a federal lawsuit against the credit card company last month, charging it with price...

Jack Fruth, chain leader, is dead at 77.(obituary)(Obituary)
August 15, 2005... HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Jack Fruth, chairman and founder of Fruth Pharmacy, died here on July 19. He was 77 and still going to the company's offices in Point Pleasant, W.Va., virtually every workday. He was known for his local philanthropy,...

Bartell appoints Miller senior VP.(Bartell Drug Co. plans to open outlets at Stanwood and Shoreline)(Ron Miller)(appointments)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... SEATTLE -- Former Macy's executive Ron Miller has been named senior vice president of merchandising at 53-unit Bartell Drug. He was most recently central home marketing director at Macy's Northwest. Miller will oversee the development...

CVS chairman and chief executive officer Tom Ryan presents $2 million to the ALS Therapy Alliance to support research into amytrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.(customer donation campaign raised the money)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... CVS chairman and chief executive officer Tom Ryan presents $2 million to the ALS Therapy Alliance to support research into amytrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The money was raised through a customer donation...

Acquisition of Ivax to make Teva No. 1 generics maker.(Supplier News)(Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. acquires Ivax Corp.)
August 15, 2005... JERUSALEM -- With its agreement to acquire Ivax Corp. for $7.4 billion, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has regained its status as the world's largest generic drug maker. Teva had been the No. 1 generics company before Novartis bought...

New TV campaign touts Oxy brand.(Supplier News)(Mentholatum Company Inc.'s advertising campaign)(Dave Mirra appointed spokesman)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Oxy Acne Solutions has debuted a television commercial featuring BMX cycling star and 13-time X Games gold medalist Dave Mirra. Oxy manufacturer Mentholatum Co. signed Mirra as a spokesman in May and is featuring him...

SDM 'continues to experience market share gains'.(Shoppers Drug Mart Ltd.)
August 15, 2005... TORONTO -- Ongoing sales growth, a better sales mix and operating efficiencies all combined to generate a double-digit increase in net income at Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) during both the second quarter and the first half of 2005. The bottom...

Drugstore.com trims loss in second quarter.(Business)
August 15, 2005... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Aided by double-digit sales growth and improved gross margins and operating expense ratios, drugstore.com narrowed its operating and net losses during the second quarter of fiscal 2005. However, the company warned of widened...

Chain drug stocks chalk up another record in July.
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Chain drug stocks rose strongly again in July, making the group one of Wall Street's hottest. From June 30 to July 26 Chain Drug Review's stock index, which tracks the performance of all publicly traded drug store stocks,...

The 'whys' at Wal-Mart remain a mystery.(Wal-Mart's personel management)
August 15, 2005... A bizarre and unfathomable tale has unfolded at Wal-Mart over the past several months. Last spring, Frank Segrave, one of the truly knowledgeable, adept and likable professionals in the retail pharmacy community, was suddenly moved from...

The issue of drug costs isn't going to go away.(Arnold Schwarzenegger's drug price policy)
August 15, 2005... A battle over two ballot initiatives is under way in California that bears close scrutiny by anyone with an interest in the prescription drug business. In a special election in November called by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to...

Condoms lead category; health emphasis reenters picture.(FAMILY PLANNING: Suppliers create new items, unique messages to drive home importance of their lines)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Few product sectors have been affected by advances in science in recent years as much as the family planning. Once limited primarily to condoms, family planning has grown over the past decade to include a host of pregnancy and...

Product misuse shows a need for education.(FAMILY PLANNING: Suppliers create new items, unique messages to drive home importance of their lines)(study on condoms usage)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Despite condom suppliers' ongoing emphasis on the importance of using their products properly, a recent study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that condom-use errors continue. As a result, the researchers say, too...

When family planning becomes a political issue.(FAMILY PLANNING: Suppliers create new items, unique messages to drive home importance of their lines)(condom labling to consider AIDS prevention aspects)
August 15, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Condom labeling became a front-page issue earlier this summer when a United States senator and groups promoting abstinence from sex refused to support the confirmation of a new Food and Drug Administration head until the wording...

Latest pregnancy test kits more accurate, easier to use.(Family Planning)(Proof Positive)(Clear Choice )
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The pregnancy test kit category is ripe for innovation, suppliers say, and at least two of them are providing novel products for the chain drug market. The current state of the category is comparable to that of the thermometer...

In store everything's out in the open.(family planning items find a prominent place in drugstores)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- As family planning items have moved from behind the pharmacy counter to a prominent place in front of it, sales in the sector have correspondingly moved in a positive direction at drug chains. Chain drug retailers are...

Church & Dwight, March of Dimes join forces.(pregnent women-health aspects)
August 15, 2005... PRINCETON, N.J. -- Planned pregnancies may also be healthier pregnancies, a national survey has revealed. There is a vast difference in how women care for themselves during their first trimester depending on whether their pregnancies are...

Retailers expand horizons to include intimacy products.(INTIMACY PRODUCTS: As people open up about sexual issues, the demand grows for easy access to products.)(drugstores find more place for sexual intimacy products)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- While it is nowhere near being a new category, sexual intimacy products are only now finding their way onto the shelves of mainstream drug stores. Available for years in specialty shops, adult book stores and, more recently,...

P&G bets on testosterone for women.(INTIMACY PRODUCTS: As people open up about sexual issues, the demand grows for easy access to products.)(Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Despite having its testosterone patch for women unanimously rejected by a Food and Drug Administration panel last year, Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals is still hoping to eventually bring the product to market. A new study...

Aging boomers promise happy future for category.(INTIMACY PRODUCTS: As people open up about sexual issues, the demand grows for easy access to products.)(sexual intimacy category is growing in drug industry)(Trigg Laboratories Inc)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The sexual intimacy category in chain drug stores is growing significantly for several reasons, asserts Joe White, vice president of marketing at Trigg Laboratories Inc. "This category will continue to grow as the baby boomer...

NIH studies hormone-free arousal product for effectiveness.(INTIMACY PRODUCTS: As people open up about sexual issues, the demand grows for easy access to products.)(National Institutes of Health)(Zestra)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun an expanded study of QualiLife Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Zestra feminine arousal fluid to determine the product's effectiveness in treating sexual disorders in women. The...

Drugstore.com has right ambience.(intimacy products in the online drug store)
August 15, 2005... BELLEVUE, Wash. -- No drug store in North America has embraced the sexual intimacy category the way drugstore.com has. With a business model that executives admit is ideally suited to selling massage oils, personal massagers and a wide...

Supplements a logical approach to sexual health.(dietary supplements to combat sexual problems)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- One of the most established segments to help men and women combat diminished libido and other sexual problems is dietary supplements. For years herbalists, nutritionists and homeopaths have been recommending dozens of types of...

Women look for more in feminine hygiene departments.(FEMININE HYGIENE: Drug chains have the opportunity to become a destination for a woman's personal needs.)(toiletries companies make products focusing on better women health)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The most embarrassing problems for women are also sometimes the most common ones. According to a survey presented earlier this year at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA), about 38% of nearly 23.5...

New pads tackle multiwetness needs.(FEMININE HYGIENE: Drug chains have the opportunity to become a destination for a woman's personal needs.)(Stayfree Advanced Protection from McNeil-PPC Inc. Personal Products Company Div)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Personal Products Co., a division of McNeil-PPC Inc., has sparked sales in the feminine hygiene category with the recent debuts of Stayfree Dry Max Ultra Thin and Stayfree Advanced Protection sanitary pads. "Stayfree Dry Max...

Powdered drink mix aims to control PMS problems.(FEMININE HYGIENE: Drug chains have the opportunity to become a destination for a woman's personal needs.)(premenstrual syndrome)(PMS Escape from Swiss Medica Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Swiss Medica Inc. has reintroduced PMS Escape, a dietary supplement that the company says effectively helps manage the normal changes in mood and appetite associated with premenstrual syndrome. The product is available at select...

Medicated wipes offer easy relief.(FEMININE HYGIENE: Drug chains have the opportunity to become a destination for a woman's personal needs.)(Combe Inc's Maximum Strength Vagisil -a new anti-itch product)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Combe Inc. has expanded its Vagisil brand with a feminine anti-itch product in a towelette format. Maximum Strength Vagisil anti-itch medicated wipes contain the brand's recently developed odor-blocking technology as well as...

Intimate cleansing the healthy way.(Beyond Fresh Intimates from Lake Consumer Products Co. )
August 15, 2005... JACKSON, Wis. -- Lake Consumer Products Co. brought a new form of innovation to feminine hygiene store shelves recently with its introduction of Beyond Fresh Intimates, promoted as the first product in the category specifically designed for...

Organic cotton tampons go mass.(toiletries companies' sales and market share)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- It is not just traditional feminine hygiene products that are attracting attention in chain drug stores. Organic cotton tampons, customarily sold in natural products stores, are gaining shelf space in such outlets as those operated...

Private label confronts the big guys head-on.(Feminine Hygiene)(private label products play good role in feminine hygiene products market)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Private label products continue to play an integral role in most retailers' feminine hygiene efforts. In the tampon category, for instance, store brand products account for slightly more than 6% of mass market dollar sales and...

Premium brand offers protection, diva-worthy style.(Dittie Co. products for women hygiene)
August 15, 2005... ORINDA, Calif. -- A year-and-a-half-old company here is looking to take some of the stuffiness out of feminine hygiene by marketing what it calls a "fun and sassy" brand of products on the West Coast. Dittie Co. is the brainchild of Barbara...

Chains give consumers tools to monitor health at home.(AT-HOME DIAGNOSTICS: "For many, blood pressure test kits are an extension of the drugs they are taking.")
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Increased consciousness of the obesity epidemic and its risks are driving more and more Americans to test their blood pressure at home, say chain drug retailers and suppliers. With excessive weight often resulting in...

Wellness tour raises health awareness.(AT-HOME DIAGNOSTICS: "For many, blood pressure test kits are an extension of the drugs they are taking.")(by Walgreen Co)
August 15, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. is highlighting home diagnostics with a wellness tour, bringing education and health screenings around the country. The Walgreens Wellness Tour features a motor coach on a 12-month, 45-city tour. Stopping at...

Making drug testing a very private affair.(AT-HOME DIAGNOSTICS: "For many, blood pressure test kits are an extension of the drugs they are taking.")(home drug testing equipment are the hottest at drug stores)(Worldwide Medical and notMykid.org to educate youth on drug abuse)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The demand of anxious parents for home drug tests has made the products among the hottest in drug chains, say retailers and suppliers. "Whether it's marijuana in the suburbs or methamphetamine in rural areas, the scourge of...

Sports celebs warn against dangers of hypertension.(health campaigns)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The link between hypertension and heart attacks has been reinforced in a campaign featuring sports celebrities Ray Knight and Nancy Lopez. Lopez, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Hall of Famer and winner of 48 LPGA...

Drug chains solidify position as destination of choice.(SPORTS MEDICINE: In addition to convenience, pharmacists' advice fosters dominance of trade class.)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Muscle/body supports have become a major year-round category at drug chains, according to retailers. "Braces and bands are a destination section for us and are merchandised with DME [durable medical equipment] due to the depth...

Nutrition is on the grow in all directions.(SPORTS MEDICINE: In addition to convenience, pharmacist's advice fosters dominance of trade class.)(new nutritional food for good health )(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- The market for sports nutrition products is expanding, and drug chains are poised to capitalize on the growth. Sports nutrition items are taking on new forms and reaching new markets, and both trends are being welcomed by chain...

New entry in fighting lower back pain.(SPORTS MEDICINE: In addition to convenience, pharmacist's advice fosters dominance of trade class.)(low-level heat wrap therapy to cure acute lower back pain )
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- New research shows that continuous low-level heat wrap therapy (CLHT) can significantly reduce acute lower back pain and improve functional outcomes in patients who use the treatment with exercise. Restorative exercise and...

Pain patches less invasive alternative.(SPORTS MEDICINE: In addition to convenience, pharmacist's advice fosters dominance of trade class.)(pain patches-new trend in sports medicine)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Pain patches are fueling growth in the sports medicine market as people seek alternatives to prescription products and internal analgesics, according to suppliers. Consumers worried over the side effects of pills will seek...

Best Buy's eq-life combines health, wellness, technology.(Sports Medicine)
August 15, 2005... RICHFIELD, Minn. -- Sports medicine is a significant part of an experimental retail store unveiled outside Minneapolis earlier this year by Best Buy Stores. Treatments for injuries go hand in hand with the store's emphasis on fitness,...

Intros, technology tweak category.(DEODORANTS: Deodorants/antiperspirants is one of the most crowded front-end categories.)(deodorants and antiperspirants are the most dynamic categories in chain drug retailing)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- Few suppliers, retailers or consumers would call deodorants and antiperspirants one of chain drug retailing's most dynamic categories, but none would argue with the fact that it is one of the trade class's most steady performers....

P&G covers the country to find sweatiest cities.(DEODORANTS: Deodorants/antiperspirants is one of the most crowded front-end categories.)(Procter & Gamble Co)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... CINCINNATI -- Marketers at Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) and its Old Spice deodorant line recently announced P&G's list of America's 100 sweatiest cities. The list marks the fourth consecutive year the company has ranked the cities where...

The names of the products are different; so are the functions.(DEODORANTS: Deodorants/antiperspirants is one of the most crowded front-end categories.)(deodorants and antiperspirants)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... WASHINGTON -- While often used interchangeably by consumers and some retailers, deodorants and antiperspirants, Food and Drug Administration officials point out, are very different products. And, they say in the July/August issue of the...

P&G may be forced to sell Gillette deodorant lines.(Deodorant News)(Procter & Gamble Co)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... As Procter & Gamble Co. continues to work toward getting the Federal Trade Commission's approval to merge with Gillette Co., some analysts feel that P&G will have to divest itself of some of Gillette's assets, including its deodorant business....

Natural deodorant aimed at girls.(Deodorant News)(from Earth Exchange Corp)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Taking the body spray phenomenon across gender lines, Houston-based Earth Exchange Corp. has developed a natural deodorant body spray for teenage ,girls. The fragrant spray is the first in what the company hopes will be a complete line of...

Coty introduces adidas for women.(Deodorant News)(Absorbent-Deo to manage perspiration as antiperspirant)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... The Coty Beauty division of Coty Inc. has launched adidas Absorbent-Deo, a uniquely formulated deodorant that is said to manage perspiration as effectively as an antiperspirant. Employing what Coty calls CottonTech complex, the product...

Playtex realigns Banana Boat sales force.(Playtex Products Inc restructures its operations)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Playtex Products Inc. says it will consolidate its North American unit and restructure its Canadian operations. As part of the moves, Playtex plans to restructure its Banana Boat sun care sales organization to focus on what the company sees...

Company debuts UV sensor patch.(Sun Care News)(SunSignals UV Sensors from SunHealth Solutions LLC)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... SunHealth Solutions LLC has launched SunSignals UV Sensors, a thin self-adhesive patch that monitors exposure to ultraviolet rays. "When the UVB level exceeds the point where someone with fair to fight skin might experience the first...

Blue Lizard blocks key rays.(Del-Ray Dermatologicals develops six new sunblocks)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... Executives at Del-Ray Dermatologicals say studies have shown that the company's six Blue Lizard sunblock formulations screen out 99.83% of UVA rays. UVA is the ultraviolet ray that physicians say is the most damaging to a person's skin....

Savvy consumers turn sun care year-round.(SUN CARE: "Consumers are looking for higher SPFs, and they are looking at sprays over lotions")
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- A slow start to the summer season initially held down sales of sun care products, but hotter weather and growing consumer awareness of the damaging effect unprotected exposure to the sun can have on one's skin have helped put sales...

Sunless tanners to do more than tan.(SUN CARE: "Consumers are looking for higher SPFs, and they are looking at sprays over lotions")(new sunless tanning products)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- For years people who shun the sun have been turning to sunless tanning products. While many of those products once resulted in users' skin turning various shades of orange, formulations in recent years have become much better...

First Sun Safety Week raises hopes for future.(SUN CARE: "Consumers are looking for higher SPFs, and they are looking at sprays over lotions")(The Sun Safety Alliance conveys the importance of sunscreens to avoid cancer)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- An alliance of suppliers and industry advocates has been working diligently in recent years to ensure that awareness of the damaging effects of overexposure to the sun can have on a person's skin remains a high priority for...

Photosensitizing an unrecognized threat.("Consumers are looking for higher SPFs, and they are looking at sprays over lotions")(drugs and cosmetics leads to photosensitizing)(Brief Article)
August 15, 2005... NEW YORK -- People who take certain prescription drugs or use a handful of over-the-counter medications and health and beauty aids can often increase their risk for overexposure to ultraviolet light, a spokesman for the Sun Safety Alliance...

Woman's Day honors leaders in beauty, health.(Woman's Day Best in Beauty & Health Awards[TM])
August 15, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- New ideas are the lifeblood of the health and beauty aids business, spurring the consumer interest that leads to incremental sales. In an effort to foster a spirit of innovation in the industry, Woman's Day, Chain Drug Review and...

Pharmacists' role assured in Medicare marketing.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)
August 29, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Guidelines for the marketing of Medicare prescription drug programs issued earlier this month ensure that pharmacists will play a key role in educating people about the options available to them. "Many people with Medicare...

Coalition fosters PBM transparency.(pharmacy benefits managers, HR Policy Association's Pharmaceutical Purchasing Coalition)
August 29, 2005... NEW YORK -- Walgreens Health Initiatives (WHI) is among three pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) chosen to make drug purchasing more transparent for 52 major companies and help cut their costs. WHI, along with Aetna Pharmacy Management and...

NACDS execs will assume bigger roles.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Bill Sittmann and Jim Huber )
August 29, 2005... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- National Association of Chain Drug Stores chief operating officer Bill Sittmann and chief financial officer Jim Huber have been named executive vice presidents of the organization. With the added titles come added...

Jean Coutu calls shots for fiscal '06.(Jean Coutu Group Inc.)
August 29, 2005... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The Jean Coutu Group has decided to close 78 underperforming Eckerd drug stores in the United States. On the expansion front, though, the company's Brooks Eckerd Pharmacy unit plans to open 23 new outlets and relocate 34...

Rite Aid names McCarty sr. VP, human resources.(Todd McCarty)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Todd McCarty, a former executive with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has joined Rite Aid Corp. as senior vice president of human resources. The 39-year-old McCarty, who was senior vice president of human resources...

CVS sees its job as filling every script.(Civil Rights Act of 1964)
August 29, 2005... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Corp. requires its pharmacists to ensure that all prescriptions, including birth control medications, are dispensed as needed, according to Jon Roberts, senior vice president of store operations. He outlined the...

DrugMax chief operating officer resigns.(William LaGamba)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... FARMINGTON, Conn. -- William LaGamba has resigned as president and chief operating officer at DrugMax Inc., one of several executive changes at the company, a specialty pharmacy provider and drug distribution. James Beaumariage, senior...

Chains broaden fight over credit card fees.(drug and supermarket chains, Visa USA Inc. and MasterCard International Inc. )(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... NEW YORK -- The drug and supermarket chains that sued Visa USA Inc. last month over the fees it charges the retailers have now set their sights on MasterCard International Inc. Walgreen Co., the Jean Coutu Group's Maxi Drug subsidiary, CVS...

Rite Aid offers new angle on vitamins.(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. is launching a vitamin initiative in its drug stores across the country. A free vitamin answer wheel is being distributed in all Rite Aid locations. The wheel is designed to show customers recommended...

Court takes a year off Grass' prison sentence.(Rite Aid Corp.'s Martin Grass)
August 29, 2005... HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A federal judge here has trimmed a year from former Rite Aid Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Martin Grass' eight-year prison sentence. In an August 11 ruling U.S. District Judge Sylvia Rambo said she was...

Home ownership made easier for CVS workers.(Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.)
August 29, 2005... WASHINGTON -- CVS Corp. has established a program for its 1,000 employees in and around the nation's capital to foster home ownership. The program is the first Freddie Mac Workforce Home Benefit initiative to be launched with a national...

Duane Reade kiosks 'about convenience'.
August 29, 2005... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade Inc.'s DR Express pharmacy kiosk blends high-end styling and electronics, allowing consumers to order prescriptions from remote locations and talk with a pharmacist 24 hours a day. "It's all about customer...

Walgreens intensifies meth fight.(marketing Methamphetamine to other drug stores)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. is moving all products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter. The transition is to be completed at all of the retailer's stores across the nation by the end of October. The policy expands on...

Hinkaty takes reins as chief exec at Del.(Charlie Hinkaty, Del Laboratories Inc.)
August 29, 2005... UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Charlie Hinkaty has succeeded Bill McMenemy as president and chief executive officer of Del Laboratories Inc. "I am honored to accept this position and excited about the many opportunities for our business," says Hinkaty,...

Able Labs decides to liquidate business.(Able Laboratories Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... CRANBURY, N.J. -- Able Laboratories Inc. has decided to sell its business in light of Food and Drug Administration requirements for the relaunch of its products. The regulatory agency had rejected the company's proposal to revalidate its...

Christie Brinkley back at CoverGirl.(Procter & Gamble Co.'s (P&G's) CoverGirl )(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... CINCINNATI -- Supermodel Christie Brinkley is returning to Procter & Gamble Co.'s (P&G's) CoverGirl family to launch Advanced Radiance Compact Foundation, a new segment for the brand. Brinkley began modeling for CoverGirl in 1976, the start...

Sugar Free Full Throttle ready.(Coca-Cola Co. Coca-Cola North America's new energy drink)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... ATLANTA -- Coca-Cola North America is poised to launch Sugar Free Full Throttle. Sold in 16-ounce cans and four-can multipacks, the brand will be competitively priced with other energy drinks on the market, according to a spokesman for the...

QualiLife's Zestra in the spotlight.(QualiLife Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- QualiLife Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Zestra feminine arousal fluid was recently featured on a segment of NBC's "Today Show" with Katie Couric. The 100%-natural product is being studied to determine its effectiveness in...

Dyna-Tabs help facilitate healthy, on-the-go lifestyle.(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... NEW YORK -- Dyna-Tabs LLC is launching vitamin and herbal supplements in a fast-dissolving tab. "Dyna-Tabs offer time-crunched consumers a convenient way to maintain a healthy lifestyle while juggling a hectic schedule," says Dyna Tabs...

Candelora exits Pathmark to join MPG as senior VP.(Market Performance Group LLC, Bob Candelora, Pathmark Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 29, 2005... NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Market Performance Group LLC (MPG) has appointed Bob Candelora senior vice president. Candelora comes to MPG from Pathmark Stores Inc., where he served as senior vice president of nonfoods and pharmacy merchandising. At...

With Eckerd assimilation behind it, CVS is in high gear.(CVS Corp. sales increased after acquiring Eckerd stores)
August 29, 2005... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- With the integration of its acquired Eckerd stores complete, strong sales growth drove a double-digit increase in net income at CVS Corp. during the second quarter of 2005. However, management's cautious outlook for the rest...