Drug Store News articles from October 2006

Drug Store News archives from October 2006

CVS chief shrugs off generics price pressure.(News)
October 23, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- In a rare conference call earlier this month with analysts to discuss monthly sales, CVS chairman, president and chief executive officer Tom Ryan addressed two recent events that had challenged the company's share price and...

Wal-Mart ups ante on generics offer, rolls out drug plan across Florida.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
October 23, 2006... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Wal-Mart Stores' chain and independent pharmacy competitors are eyeing warily the company's rapid expansion of its much-ballyhooed generic drug discount program, with some rival discounters matching Wal-Mart s $4-per-script...

Open road: proposed bill clears pathway for biogenerics approval.(news)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., last month introduced the Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act, which, it passed, would open a clear regulatory pathway for the approval of...

Lobbying campaign pays off, industry dodges TRICARE bullet.(News)(pharmaceutical industry campaigns against Department of Defense health care program)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Score one for pharmacy--and for the recently organized Coalition for Community Pharmacy Action. A massive grass roots e-mail and letter campaign, spearheaded by the CCPA and involving thousands of pharmacy owners, industry leaders...

Retail pharmacy raises big dollars, but spends little on campaigns.(Election watch 2006)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Political fundraisers for the nation's drug chains and independent pharmacies are in a position to make a splash in next month's Congressional elections after raising a record $1.2 million for House and Senate candidates in the...

Drug store PACs hedge bets; play both sides.(political action committees)(donate funds to House and Senate hopefuls)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The more than $340,000 shelled out so far by community pharmacy Political Action Committees for Congressional candidates in next month's elections was spread among hundreds of House and Senate hopefuls from every corner of the...

Rite Aid funds community pharmacy lab at St. John's.(St. John's University)
October 23, 2006... JAMAICA, N.Y. -- Looking to better prepare tomorrow s pharmacists for their vital role as a leading health care provider, Rite Aid has helped established at St. John s University of College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions the Rite Aid...

Ukrop's plants pharmacy-focused roots in store No. 28.(Supermarket Rx News)(Ukrop's Super Markets Inc.)
October 23, 2006... WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Ukrop's Super Markets last month opened its second store here, some 50 miles outside of the state capital of Richmond. The new store, all 56,000 square feet of it, showcases many of the latest focal points currently being...

Farmer Jack prepares immunizations.(Supermarket Rx News)(Farmer Jack Supermarkets)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... DETROIT -- Farmer Jack Supermarkets is offering flu and pneumonia immunizations to customers in southeastern Michigan. The program will be offered at 56 Farmer Jack stores between Oct. 11 and Nov. 7, in conjunction with nurses from the Greater...

Supervalu posts 2Q earnings spike.(Supermarket Rx News)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Strong sales at its Albertsons stores helped boost second-quarter earnings for Supervalu. The 2,504-store chain reported $132 million in earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 9, a huge increase over the $34 million in...

MinuteClinic to exchange patient info with medical providers.(News)
October 23, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- Striving to improve quality, safety and efficiency of care, MinuteClinic, a provider of in-store health clinics and a subsidiary of CVS, has reached an agreement with the American Academy of Family Physicians to exchange...

U.S. can learn from revisions in U.K. pharmacy.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores Pharmacy and Technology Conference )
October 23, 2006... At the recent National Association of Chain Drug Stores Pharmacy and Technology Conference this summer, the business sessions were awash with recognition that the only way forward for community pharmacy in the United States is to focus on...

Making the scene: Caregiver Expo.(News)
October 23, 2006... Eisai's Sean Spears [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom Thomas and Monica Kuhne of Thomas Pharmaceuticals [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bobby Rallakis, R.Ph., a Walgreens store manager [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dinah Day, image...

How the elections could influence health care's future.(Opinion)
October 23, 2006... The special report on the political action committees poses a clear reminder that the outcome of the Nov. 7 elections could influence and impact the future of retail pharmacy for the next five years and beyond. If there is any significant...

Election Day is chance to send message in a (pill) bottle.(Opinion)
October 23, 2006... By the time this issue of Drug Store News reaches your desk, the November elections will be just a couple of weeks away. So, what are you going to do about it this time? Because Nov. 7 is your chance to send a message to Washington and to...

Making MTM pay: Marilyn Aldrich, Dahl's Foods.(Q&A)(Medication Therapy Management )(Interview)
October 23, 2006... The concept of Medication Therapy Management is just beginning to gain traction among Medicare Part D plan payers, but it could accelerate pharmacy's evolution beyond basic prescription dispensing. A few more progressive health plans...

Part D adds tools and choices, but more confusion could result.(Chain Pharmacy)(Medicare Part D)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- It's renewal time for the Medicare Part D drug benefit. For millions of seniors that will mean more choices, and likely more confusion, at least at the beginning. For pharmacists and their retail employers, to paraphrase Ricky...

Insurers join industry groups to launch Medicare plan guide.(Chain Pharmacy)(pharmacy organizations and health insurance industry jointly educate consumers on drug plans)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The nation's leading retail pharmacy organizations joined forces with the health insurance industry this month to launch a national education campaign to help seniors evaluate their Medicare prescription drug plan choices. ...

The Food and Drug Adeministration has approved Vectibix, a colorectal cancer drug from Amgen, which is expected to put pressure on colon cancer treatments from ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb.(REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... The Food and Drug Adeministration has approved Vectibix, a colorectal cancer drug from Amgen, which is expected to put pressure on colon cancer treatments from ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Amgen's drug will cost about 20 percent...

FluLaval from GlaxoSmithKline will be available this fall to treat the strain of influenza that is expected to drive tins season's flu activity in North America.(REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... FluLaval from GlaxoSmithKline will be available this fall to treat the strain of influenza that is expected to drive tins season's flu activity in North America. This means there are now five FDA-approved vaccines to treat flu for winter...

A new treatment for skin cancer will be available soon, following the FDA's approval of Zolinza (vorinostat) from Merck.(REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK)(Merck & Company Inc.)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... A new treatment for skin cancer will be available soon, following the FDA's approval of Zolinza (vorinostat) from Merck. The drug, available in capsule form, treats T-cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma skin cancer, when the disease...

Walgreens, AARP join to reach patients.(Chain Pharmacy)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Walgreens has joined with AARP in a new alliance to bring educational resources about health, wellness and medicines to adults age 50 and over. The high-profile outreach effort, announced late last month, will combine AARP's vast...

Lawmakers seek to halt settlements.(Chain Pharmacy)(pharmaceutical settlements with generic companies)
October 23, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Branded companies are doing all they can to quell competition from cheaper generic drugs, which now constitute about 50 percent of the $252 billion drug market in the United States. Mark Kovner, a lawyer with Kirkland & Ellis,...

As waistlines expand, so too do obesity treatment options.(Chain Pharmacy)
October 23, 2006... NEW YORK -- There's a huge opportunity lying in wait for the nation's drug makers in the form of obesity drugs. There are currently two FDA-approved drugs on the market for obesity: Xenical from Roche and Meridia from Abbott. These drugs...

Diet drug pipeline fattens.(Chain Pharmacy)(anti-obesity drugs)
October 23, 2006... NEW YORK -- Obesity is on its way to becoming the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Fortunately, there are drugs in the pipeline to treat this growing disease. One of the next diet drugs likely to be approved is...

Positioning PSE: David Howenstine, Wyeth.(Q&A)(pseudoephedrine products )(Interview)
October 23, 2006... Drug Store News: Now that PSE is behind all pharmacy counters with the passing of the Patriot Act, what challenges will this present to retailers in the upcoming cough/cold season? Howenstine: There are two primary challenges. The first is...

Heartburn sufferers starve for relief, info despite steady diet of new items, ads.(OTC/Natural Health)
October 23, 2006... According to the latest survey to come out of the National Heartburn Alliance, more than 69 percent of heartburn sufferers are craving information about their condition. Another 64 percent of sufferers are unsure how common OTC heartburn...

Adding a spoonful of flavor.(McNeil Consumer Healthcare introduces children's liquid pain relievers )(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Sales of children's liquid pain relievers are on the upswing, perhaps in no-small part to the recent introduction of several flavorful innovations from McNeil Consumer Healthcare. McNeil Consumer recently launched its Children's Tylenol...

Scar therapies: new products, dipping sales.(OTC/Natural Health)(skin care products)
October 23, 2006... While sales of scar therapy solutions have dropped in the past few years--two of the most popular treatments experienced double-digit declines for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 10, according to Information Resources, Inc. data--vendors operating in...

Chattem adds five venerable brands to portfolio.(OTC/Natural Health)
October 23, 2006... CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- In the aftermath of Johnson & Johnson's acquisition of Pfizer's consumer health care brands, Chattem has picked up a handful of Pfizer and J&J brands in a deal valued at $410 million. The acquired brands include J&J's...

Humco Holding Group.(Supplier News)(plans to launch arthritis pain relief lotions )(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Humco Holding Group has plans to launch Castiva Arthritis Pain Relief Lotions containing either warming capsaicin or cooling menthol and methyl salicylate. The new products have a base of castor oil. We wanted to create a product that had a...

Becton Dickinson and Co.(Supplier News)(to exit blood glucose monitoring market )(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Becton, Dickinson and Co. last month announced it will exit the blood glucose monitoring market by the end of the year, prompting a number of announcements from rival glucose monitor manufacturers offering free replacement monitors to BD's...

Lil' Drug Store Products.(Supplier News)(sells wart removal system to Prestige Brands Holdings)
October 23, 2006... Lil' Drug Store Products last month sold the Wartner brand wart removal system to Prestige Brands Holdings in a deal valued at approximately $36 million, according to Prestige. Wartner is an OTC wart removal device that uses cryotherapy to...

Soothing Scents.(Supplier News)(to launch QueaseEase for nausea)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Soothing Scents is in the process of launching QueaseEase, an aromatherapy option for the relief of nausea. The formulation is drug-free, comprised of the scents lavender, spearmint, peppermint and ginger. On its Web site, QueaseEase sells for...

Innovative ideas: Joe Jacober, Innovative Brands.(Q&A)(Interview)
October 23, 2006... In today's competitive retail environment, pharmacy retailers are increasingly searching for ways to bolster store traffic and further drive front-end sales to help offset slimming margins in pharmacy. Newcomer Innovative Brands is looking to...

Experts: drug chains must re-style approach to woo black shoppers from beauty suppliers.(Beauty Care)
October 23, 2006... There is a shopper who spends twice as much money on hair care products and substantially more on skin care than the average American and by 2009 is projected to have a buying power of $965 billion. Meet the black shopper, who may or may not be...

Highlighting a new use for strips.(WHAT'S HOT)(Dyna-Tabs introduces hair-styling highlighting tabs)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Dyna-Tabs, a maker of oral film strips for such conditions as digestive support, immune health and energy, now is entering the beauty segment with new hair-styling highlighting tabs. The product, dubbed Dyna-Doo, retails for $3.99 for a...

Garden of Life.(Supplier News)(introduces tea concentrates)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Garden of Life introduced Living Foods organic teas, single-serve tea concentrates in liquid packets that consumers can pour into bottled water or hot water. The pre-brewed concentrates are available in green tea, lemon-flavored green tea and...

Whole Foods Market.(Supplier News)(introduces organic milk)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Whole Foods Market introduced 365 Organic Everyday Value organic milk available in whole, fat free, 1 percent and 2 percent varieties. The milk is produced and distributed regionally throughout the United States, as close as possible to the...

Gak's Snacks.(Supplier News)(introduces a line of baked goods)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Gak's Snacks has created a line of baked goods that are peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free and dairy-free. They are certified organic, Kosher pareve, vegan, whole grain and contain no cholesterol or trans fat. The company Web site sells a...

Mars Inc.(Supplier News)(partners with Alliance for a Healthier Generation to offer healthful snacks in U.S. schools)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Mars Inc., in a move to demonstrate its commitment to health and nutrition, has announced its partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to offer more healthful snacks in U.S. schools. The company will produce a line of snacks to...

Talking Rain.(Supplier News)(introduces bottled water)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Twist from Talking Rain is an all-natural flavored water with a twist of flavor and no sweeteners or preservatives. Twist is available in lemon, mandarin, peach and marionberry flavors.

Coca-Cola Enterprises.(Executive News)(Esat Sezer appointed)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Coca-Cola Enterprises named Esat Sezer senior vice president and chief information officer, effective Oct. 11. Sezer will oversee the company's technology and information capabilities and will report to John Brock, president and chief executive...

Promoting health, healthy food benefits bolsters drug's image, impulse sales.(Consumables)(drug retilers)
October 23, 2006... With so many channels stocking the same pantry products, is there any way drug retailers can differentiate themselves from the competition? Thom Blischok, president of Information Resources Inc.'s Retail Solutions Group, thinks drug stores...

Livin' la Vita Coco.(WHAT'S HOT)(All Market LLC's Vita Coco coconut water)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... All Market has taken the health and sports drinks trend the next step with Vita Coco natural coconut water, which the company says hydrates the body quickly and effectively after a workout. "Customers are buying the drink not by the single...

Walgreens.(Retailer News)(new jewelry line)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Walgreens will roll out an exclusive jewelry line made with Swarovski crystals, called the "Pure Allure Crystal Collection," in 5,400 of its U.S. and Puerto Rico stores this month. The line, developed exclusively for Walgreens by the Los...

Longs Drug Stores.(Retailer News)(introduces online photo features)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Longs Drug Stores has made new online photo features available through a relationship with Snapfish by HP. The new online photo service will include a broad range of free photo-editing tools and software that allows customers to share, store...

Kodak.(Supplier News)(Eastman Kodak Co. introduces new kiosk model )(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Kodak unveiled a new kiosk model at Photokina, Europe's annual imaging exposition and trade show. The kiosk produces 11 prints per second and uses Bluetooth technology to transmit photos wirelessly to the unit. The program prints specialty...

Eclectik Design.(Supplier News)(adds more greeting cards to collection)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Chicago-based greeting card company Eclectik Design has obtained a cross-license with NASCAR for its Dale Earnhardt Incorporated greeting card line. The greeting card designers will add four sets of boxed holiday cards and one pack of birthday...

Staedtler.(Supplier News)(introduces gel pen)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Staedtler added an .8mm gel pen multipack to its Maxum product lineup. Able to mark on light and dark paper, the acid-free ink is waterproof, smearproof, scratch-free, permanent, fade-resistant and quick-drying. The pen is available in eight...

Online-to-retail, custom grows in photo.(General Merchandise)
October 23, 2006... Photo imaging is an evolving landscape with new opportunities continuing to emerge. Industry experts say retailers need to adjust their marketing and merchandising strategies to accommodate online-to-retail printing as well as offer more...

Bonsai brings nature home.(WHAT'S HOT)(DuneCraft introduces Bonsai Village)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... As one of America's favorite pastimes, gardening was a more than $35 billion industry last year in the United States, according to the National Gardening Association. Looking to tap into that market, DuneCraft introduced on Oct. 3 the...

Duracell.(Supplier News)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Duracell introduced two new Nickel Metal Hydride battery chargers with industry-leading safety technology to meet the power needs of high-drain electronic devices. Designed for tech-savvy customers, the Power Gauge Charger charges up to four AA...

Walt Disney Home Entertainment.(Supplier News)(introduces "The Little Mermaid " DVD set)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Walt Disney Home Entertainment released the two-disc Platinum Edition of The Little Mermaid on Oct. 3. Available for the first time in seven years, the film has been digitally restored, and the audio remastered with Disney's Enhanced Home...

Fox Home Entertainment.(Supplier News)(Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Inc. introduces "Return to the Planet of the Apes" DVD set)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Fox Home Entertainment introduced "Return to the Planet of the Apes," the Saturday morning animated series that picked up where the science-fiction film and TV franchise left off. The two-disc DVD set contains restored episodes, first run in...

Snap TV looks to bring DVD games to pharmacy retailers.(General Merchandise)
October 23, 2006... The upcoming launch of new game consoles from Sony and Nintendo this month is the big buzz in gaming circles, but Snap TV also is making some noise. The Los Angeles-based company is making inroads outside the console sector with DVD-based games...

Other pharmacy interests play politic$ of fundraising.(News)(pharmacy groups raise funds for elections)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... Like drug chains, national pharmacy groups have been active in raising political capital for candidates in this year's House and Senate races. The American Pharmaceutical Association's PAC collected more than $70,000 to support...