Chain Drug Review articles from February 2009

Chain Drug Review archives from February 2009

Walgreens pursues transformation with sense of urgency.(News)
February 2, 2009... CHICAGO -- With Walgreen Co. in the midst of a transition from a drug chain rooted solely in neighborhood pharmacies into a health care provider with a comprehensive offering of services, executives at the company's annual shareholders meeting...

Health care on Obama agenda.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The health care industry, not to mention the American public, are waiting to see what the Obama administration's first policy moves in this sector will be. Some observers have speculated that the gravity of the economic...

Plan for employers unveiled by Walgreens.(News)
February 2, 2009... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has launched Complete Care and Well-Being, a pharmacy, health and wellness program designed to reduce health care and prescription costs for employers across the country. The program, which Walgreens...

CVS Caremark realigns management team.(News)(appointment of Helena Foulkes and Jon Roberts)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- Reorganizing its senior management for improved collaboration and communication, CVS Caremark Corp. has named Helena Foulkes and Jon Roberts executive vice presidents. The company has also hired Stuart McGuigan as chief...

Congress combats economic woes.(News)
February 2, 2009... WASHINGTON -- Amid warnings that the nation's economy could deteriorate beyond repair, Democrats in the House of Representatives unveiled an $825 billion stimulus plan, while the Senate approved the release of the second half of the financial...

McKesson Canada aims to buy Uniprix.(News)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MONTREAL -- McKesson Canada's announcement last month that it is seeking to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Uniprix Group signals an intensification of the struggle to lock in the right to distribute to...

Wal-Mart keeps pricing pressure on.(News)(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
February 2, 2009... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- As part of its ongoing efforts to turn its stores into health care destinations for budget-minded consumers, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has introduced a 10-day supply of smoking cessation drugs for $9. Wal-Mart's smoking...

Kleiman becomes a VP at NACDS.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Mary Ellen Fleck Kleiman )(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- National Association of Chain Drug Stores associate general counsel Mary Ellen Fleck Kleiman has been promoted to vice president of legal affairs and associate general counsel. "This promotion reflects Mary Ellen's...

Rite Aid plans to close DC in New York state.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. in May plans to close a distribution center located in Bohemia, N.Y. Rite Aid acquired the facility in June 2007. It was one of six distribution centers that the chain picked up along with its acquisition...

Duane Reade to settle suits.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Duane Reade Holdings Inc. has moved to settle two class-action lawsuits involving employee claims of unpaid overtime. The retailer has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle the suits. The company has admitted no liability in...

NACDS, NCPA comment on health care tech measure.(News)(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(National Community Pharmacists Association)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The economic stimulus package introduced recently by House Democrats includes a $20 billion allocation for health information technology (HIT), including e-prescribing. Both the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and...

In light of recession, CVS is careful with projections.(News)(CVS Caremark Corp. revenue report)(Financial report)
February 2, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark Corp. has taken a cautious outlook for 2009 earnings, with executives pointing to slow consumer spending and margin pressure from locking in clients for its pharmacy benefits management business. In a...

Integration of Longs on track.(News)(Longs Drug Stores Corp.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS Caremark Corp. has begun the assimilation of Longs Drug Stores and expects to wrap it up by fourth quarter. "We didn't want to disrupt the stores during the holiday season, so the integration is starting this...

Store openings will remain on even keel.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- This year CVS Caremark Corp. aims to hold steady with its rate of store openings. "For 2009 our plan is to open to 250 to 300 new stores," chairman and chief executive officer Tom Ryan said during a conference call with...

Pfizer plans big cuts in ranks of scientific, sales staffs.(Supplier News)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Pfizer Inc. reportedly plans to lay off as many as 2,400 members of its sales staff, or nearly a third of its marketing workforce, as the pharmaceutical manufacturer revamps its commercial operations. In addition, the company has...

B&L taps Valenti to head division.(Supplier News)(Bausch & Lomb appoints Peter Valenti )(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Bausch & Lomb has selected Peter Valenti to serve as president of its North American vision care business. "Pete possesses deep leadership experience, as well as considerable eye health and general health care expertise,"...

Loffa becomes CEO at Newhall.(Supplier News)(appointment of Frank Loffa at Newhall Laboratories Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Frank Loffa has been named president and chief executive officer of Newhall Laboratories Inc., parent company of both La Bella (www.labellabeauty.com) and Real Solutions (www.realsolutionshair.com). Loffa's...

'Green living' touted by Nature's Bounty.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... RONKONKOMA, N.Y. -- NBTY Inc.'s Nature's Bounty brand has begun the Healthy You, Healthy Earth Sweepstakes, an effort the company says will help raise the awareness of "green" living. The contest offers a grand prize of a $10,0000 "green"...

Wet n wild marks 30th anniversary with product intros.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Markwins North America celebrated the 30th anniversary of its wet n wild line last month by introducing one of the brand's largest makeup collections ever. With 15 new products and 13 new colors, the 2009 line offers new looks...

Almay natural cosmetics collection makes debut.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Revlon Inc.'s Almay brand has launched Almay pure blends, a natural line of color cosmetics. The line's hypoallergenic formulas include an exclusive complex of fruit and flower extracts, are free of talc and added parabens, and...

Investment in Rite Aid pushes Jean Coutu into the red.(Business)(Jean Coutu Group Inc.)(Financial report)
February 2, 2009... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- Its stake in Rite Aid Corp. drove the Jean Coutu Group deeply into the red for the third quarter of fiscal 2009, but excluding special items, the Canadian drug store franchisor remained profitable and met analysts' earnings...

Stores are delivering solid sales increases.(Business)(Jean Coutu Group Inc.)(Financial report)
February 2, 2009... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- Systemwide retail sales for the Jean Coutu Group's franchise network in Canada rose 5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 to reach $850 million (Canadian) through a combination of expansion and same-store gains. ...

Supervalu posts loss as result of onetime costs.(Business)(Financial report)
February 2, 2009... MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu Inc. booked a third quarter loss of nearly $3 billion due to a noncash charge for the impairment of intangible assets. The write-down was unrelated to operating performance, but the continuing inability of the company's...

A&P tops expectations in quarter.(Business)(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Financial report)
February 2, 2009... MONTVALE, N.J. -- A&P listed a loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2008, in contrast to a profit in the year-earlier quarter, when the sale of its stake in Metro Inc. helped lift the bottom line. But with the...

Outlook for fiscal '09 reduced.(Business)(SUPERVALU Inc.)
February 2, 2009... MINNEAPOLIS -- Stymied by a huge third quarter impairment charge, Supervalu management lowered its full-year earnings guidance for the third time since the beginning of fiscal 2009. With the $14.57-per-share item, the company now estimates...

As CVS rose to top, Bodine was always there.(My Turn)(CVS Caremark Corp's Chris Bodine)
February 2, 2009... Chris Bodine retired last month--and once again the time has come to paraphrase the words of that classic novel: To those who know him and what he's accomplished, no moment of acknowledgement is necessary; to those who don't, no explanation is...

Walgreens fights health care status quo.(My Turn)
February 2, 2009... Even as Americans wait for President Obama and the 111th Congress to tackle health care reform, the evolution of the system is advancing through incremental steps taken by providers and payers working to improve patient outcomes and limit...

Advanced Beauty Systems touts value.(Beauty Watch 2009)
February 2, 2009... Dr. Teal's Therapeutic Bath & Body from Advanced Beauty Systems Inc. is bringing growth back to the bath and body category. Developed as a value-price aromatherapy brand, Dr. Teal's uses fragrance as a function of its benefit-based products...

Innovation drives Alberto Culver.(Beauty Watch 2009)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alberto Culver Co. remains a leader in the hair care category by consistently launching new and innovative products, and true to form, the company's Nexxus brand has greeted 2009 with several new items. Nexxus...

Continental Consumer builds loyalty.(Beauty Watch 2009)
February 2, 2009... Despite the national economic challenges that have been faced by the industry, Continental Consumer Products experienced its 10th consecutive year of double-digit sales increases last year. Every month the company's Salon Grafix ranks as...

Prospects are bright as consumers return to basics.(GREETING CARDS)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Both greeting card supplier executives and chain drug retailers are aware that not only have greeting cards historically proved recession-resistant, but they have often actually benefited from a slow economy. This is due to the...

Chains gear up for Valentine's Day.(GREETING CARDS)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- About 191 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year, making the holiday the second-largest for greeting card giving, and chain drug stores are now allocating significant space for Valentine's...

AG, Hallmark move to strengthen operations.(GREETING CARDS)(American Greetings Corp.)(Hallmark Cards Inc.)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- In an effort to streamline their business and maximize efficiency, the two leading greeting card companies have recently undergone a period of consolidation and acquisitional activity. Last year American Greetings Corp....

Drug chains challenge supermarkets on their own turf.(CONSUMABLES)(Walgreen Co.)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEW YORK -- Can drug store chains beat grocery retailers at their own game? As unlikely as that seemed just a few years ago, the answer now increasingly appears to be yes, especially when it comes to staples,...

Shoppers change ways amid rising prices.(CONSUMABLES)
February 2, 2009... CHICAGO -- Despite relief from record-breaking fuel costs, shoppers are still grappling with increases in food prices and spending more on consumables but getting less, according to a new report from Information Resources Inc. (IRI). ...

Focus on nutrition sharpens.(CONSUMABLES)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- More than four in five consumers believe it is best to purchase more nutritional snacks versus candy, chips and popcorn during difficult times, according to a study by Tootelian & Associates. The December study found that the...

Funky Monkey gets expanded distribution.(What's New)(Funky Monkey Snacks expands with national distribution at SuperTarget)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Availability of Funky Monkey freeze-dried fruit snacks has expanded with national distribution at SuperTarget. The 110-calorie organic snacks come in four varieties: Bananamon (banana and cinnamon), Carnaval Mix...

'Skinny' frozen dessert launch.(What's New)(Beverage Group Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skinny Dippers from Integrated Beverage Group Ltd.--preportioned ices with no calories, net curbs or sugar per 1-ounce serving--are billed as the first zero-calorie frozen dessert marketed in the U.S. The product is...

Herbal sweetener sparks beverage battle.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Excitement abounds over the launch of beverages with a zero-calorie sweetener derived from the herb stevia. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed the ingredient safe, fostering the introduction of reduced-calorie drinks by...

More foods, drinks sport 'natural' moniker.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)(Mintel Global New Products Database )
February 2, 2009... CHICAGO -- "Natural" was the most common claim for new food and drinks last year, according to the latest Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) review. Claims of products being all-natural, having no additives or preservatives or...

'Eat right,' Marc's tells customers.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... CLEVELAND -- This winter, Marc's sent an e-mail to customers that encouraged them to eat "fit foods for healthy living." The drug chain's e-mail message listed a half-dozen food items and two recipes. It said: "Take the challenge to eat...

No sales crunch in salty snacks.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)(Market share report)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Suppliers may be striving to reduce sodium in food, but salty snacks continue to thrive at drug chains. Sales gains at drug stores last year ranged from 13% for potato chips to 24% for sunflower and pumpkin seeds, according to...

Survey: many adults can't resist urge to munch.(MERCHANDISING/CONSUMABLES)
February 2, 2009... CHICAGO -- Nearly six in 10 adults reach for a snack simply because "it's there," says a Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. recent survey. Among women, the percentage who snack for no other reason is 71%, the poll found. Even for the most conscious...

Dr. Fresh's new musical brush.(What's New)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dr. Fresh Inc. has added a musical toothbrush to its line of products designed to help children brush longer. The Firefly Boppin' Barnyard musical timer toothbrush plays the song "Old MacDonald" for 60 seconds. Dr....

Ranir acquires Placontrol.(What's New)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Ranir LLC has acquired Placontrol Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Placontrol, a maker of interdental and gum care products, was one of the first companies to market a convenience dental flosser. Ranir LLC, P.O. Box 8877, Grand...

New addition to Baby Orajel teething line.(What's New)
February 2, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Church & Dwight Co. has added a new teething gel to its Baby Orajel line. Baby Orajel Cooling Cucumber teething gel uses cucumber extract to soothe a baby's irritated gums. The product is formulated to have high...

Retailers put muscle behind store brands.(ORAL CARE)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Despite a struggling economy and the category being one that some feel is in dire need of innovation, oral care continues to flourish in the nation's drug stores. "The economy doesn't seem to be having a major impact on this or...

Mouthwash: an underachieving segment?(ORAL CARE)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in sales every year, mouthwashes and oral rinses represent one of largest and best-performing segments of oral care. In 2008, drug store sales of mouthwashes and dental rinses...

Suppliers stress health benefits of good oral hygiene.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)
February 2, 2009... CHICAGO -- In a category where consumer education plays a critical role in driving sales, oral care suppliers are expanding their efforts beyond drug stores and other retail outlets. Colgate-Palmolive Co., for example, recently teamed up...

Power brush sales whirring as prices drop.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With the price point of an entry-level power toothbrush in some cases falling below that of a high-end manual brush, consumers are once again shifting to power models. Recent data from Information Resources Inc. (IRI) shows that...

Toothbrush sanitizers carve niche.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With more attention being paid to how susceptible toothbrushes are to bacteria, a growing number of consumers are opting to add toothbrush sanitizers to their oral care arsenal. One of the most active players in this niche...

Needs of children get renewed focus.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With dentists reporting that they are seeing children getting cavities at a younger age, the need to instill good oral care habits in youngsters is more vital than ever, those in the industry say. According to a recently...

Can't miss with toothpaste.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With nearly $1.5 billion in annual sales in food, drug and discount stores, no product area is as critical to retailers' oral care mix as toothpaste. Yet, the category is one of the most mature in the oral care sector and has...

ADA: time to change that brush.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(American Dental Association)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Dental professionals and marketers of toothbrushes say nothing is more important to good oral health than regularly changing one's toothbrush. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), toothbrushes can become infested...

New dentifrice may be sign of things to come.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(Indiana Nanotech)
February 2, 2009... INDIANAPOLIS -- A new toothpaste that was created by an entrepreneur here and is being marketed to dentists by 3M Co. may be a sign of things to come in the dentifrice category. Clinpro 5000, a specialty toothpaste created by 31-year-old...

Natural products show they can do the job.(MERCHANDISING/ORAL CARE)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- With a rising number of consumers seeking all-natural personal care products, marketers of natural toothpastes and mouthwashes have helped bang some diversity to the oral care category. A key reason natural oral care items have...

E-scripts can cut costs.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Health spending in the United States could fall by about $530 billion over 10 years if policy makers hasten the adoption of electronic prescribing as well as other cost-reduction measures, according to a recent report by Deloitte LLP, The...

FDA dedicates building.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration recently dedicated "Building One" part of the agency's White Oak Federal Research Center in Silver Spring, Md. The recently renovated 102,000-square-foot, four-story structure is part of the FDA's consolidation...

Cephalon signs option agreement for Ception.(News)(Ception Therapeutics Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Cephalon Inc. has signed an option agreement to acquire Ception Therapeutics Inc. Cephalon will make an up-front option payment of $100 million. Both companies have their headquarters in Pennsylvania.

Obesity trends.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Thirty-four percent of Americans are obese versus 32.7% defined as overweight, says the National Center for Health Statistics. Its analysis (based on a review of 2005 to 2006) finds more than 72 million Americans are obese.

MinuteClinic access.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... MinuteClinic has become a participating provider in the network of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF). The retail health clinic operator is a subsidiary of CVS Caremark Corp. More than 4 million BCBSF health care members now have...

Chronic illnesses.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... The rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions continue to grow. According to an article in the journal Health Affairs, the trend has contributed to a significant increase in out-of-pocket health expenses, from an...

Flu challenge.(News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Much of the dominant flu strain in the United States this season has demonstrated resistance to Tamiflu, the leading antiviral drug, much to the dismay and puzzlement of scientists and health officials. But they stress that since this has been...

Web calls.(News)(American Well )(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... American Well has debuted a Web service in Hawaii that affords patient contact with physicians online. Patients join by logging on to participating health plans' web sites.

Kevin Buehler set to become Alcon's CEO and president.(Newsmakers)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Kevin Buehler will become chief executive officer and president of Alcon Inc. in April. Novartis AG has agreed to purchase a majority stake in the eye care company from Nestle SA. Buehler, 51, has been at Alcon for 24 years, most recently...

Jeffrey Ives.(Newsmakers)(appointment at Satori Pharmaceuticals Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Jeffrey Ives has been appointed chief executive officer of Satori Pharmaceuticals Inc. He had been a senior vice president at Pfizer Inc.

Sutro Biopharma.(Newsmakers)(appointment of William Newell )(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... William Newell has been named chief executive officer of Sutro Biopharma Inc. Daniel Gold, who had held that position, is now president and chief operating officer.

Albert Ros.(Newsmakers)(appointment as executive vice president at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Albert Ros has been appointed executive vice president of sales and marketing for prescription drugs at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. He has been with the company for 14 years and previously served as head of Boehringer Ingelheim's...

Howard Feldman.(Newsmakers)(appointment at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Howard Feldman has joined Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. as vice president. He also serves as therapeutic area head of global clinical research for neuroscience.

Horizon Therapeutics.(Newsmakers)(Amy Grahn has been appointed)(Iain Duncan has been resigned)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Horizon Therapeutics Inc. has appointed Amy Grahn vice president of clinical operations. Iain Duncan has been designated senior vice president of operations.

Les Paul.(Newsmakers)(appoinment at National Pharmaceutical Council)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Les Paul has been picked to be vice president of clinical and scientific affairs at the National Pharmaceutical Council. He will coordinate the group's focus on evidence-based medicine.

Thomas Bizzaro.(Newsmakers)(appointment at First DataBank Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Thomas Bizzaro has become vice president of health policy and industry relations at First DataBank. He had been vice president of sales and marketing.

Counterfeit drugs targeted.(Focus)
February 2, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) is a voluntary organization composed of more than 50 groups and individuals dedicated to combatting counterfeit and substitute medicines. Among its members are such health care provider...

Endo buys Indevus for $370 million.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY)
February 2, 2009... CHADDS FORD, Pa. -- Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. is acquiring Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc. for about $370 million. The deal should enable the former to extend its product portfolio beyond pain medication treatments because of Indevus' expertise in...

Retailers draw fire for 'free antibiotics'.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... BOSTON -- The "free antibiotics" campaigns that are currently being offered by several retail chains have drawn criticism from the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA). Such offers of free prescribed antibiotics are portrayed...

Partnership eyes e-health network.(RX/News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WASHINGTON -- The National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC), a public/private partnership dedicated to the creation of a countrywide electronic health information network, has debuted. It is building on steps taken by the American Health...

McKesson unveils RxOwnership.com.(RX/News)
February 2, 2009... SAN FRANCISCO -- McKesson Corp. has launched RxOwnership. corn, an online resource for those who are interested in buying and selling pharmacies. The web site is a core element of the company's RxOwnership program, an initiative designed...

Alzheimer's raises issues in clinical research.(RX/News)
February 2, 2009... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- To join a clinical research study, a would-be participant usually must provide his or her consent. But what is the process for the individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease or a similar condition? Although family...

Big drug makers urged to market personalized diagnostics.(RX/News)
February 2, 2009... CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Large pharmaceutical manufacturers should consider marketing personalized medicine diagnostics while continuing to sell traditional drugs, advises Amit Agarwal, a partner with Scientia Advisors, a life sciences consulting...

Compounding elevates role of pharmacist.(RX/News)(CutisPharma Inc.)(Rite Aid Corp.)
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Compounding is bringing pharmacy back to the future. In doing so, the process is elevating the profession while gratifying patients, note practitioners. Compounding pharmacists customize medications to narrow specifications from...

An alternative to standard HRT gains momentum.(RX/News)(hormone replacement therapy )
February 2, 2009... NEW YORK -- Among the drivers of compounding has been the pursuit of a safe treatment for menopause symptoms. Traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) came under fire in 2002 when it was linked to an increased rate of heart attack,...

Patent awarded to CutisPharma.(RX/News)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... WOBURN, Mass.--A patent for a container and kit for the preparation, storage and dispensing of compounded suppositories has been granted to CutisPharma Inc. "By its very nature, the process of compounding suppositories is cumbersome,...

Broader indication sought.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY: Branded Drugs)(Merck and Company Inc.)(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... Merck & Co. wants the Food and Drug Administration to approve Gardasil, its human papillomavirus vaccine for girls and women between 9 and 26 years old, for boys and men in that age range as well.

Orphan drug approved.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY: Branded Drugs)(CSL Behring )(Brief article)
February 2, 2009... The Food and Drug Administration has approved RiaSTAP, an orphan drug, for the treatment of bleeding in patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency, a rare genetic defect. CSL Behring is the manufacturer.