Drug Store News articles from September 2006

Drug Store News archives from September 2006

WAG 4Q gets boost from strong Rx sales.(financial report Walgreen Co)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 27, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens on Monday reported net earnings for its fourth quarter were up 25.3 percent to $412 million, bolstered by strong prescription sales. For the quarter ended Aug. 31, the drug chain reported sales were up 16...

CMS deputy Norwalk likely to fill McClellan's shoes.(Leslie Norwalk )(Mark McClellan)(Brief article)
September 27, 2006... WASHINGTON -- As Drug Store News reported in its Sept. 6 NewsFirst edition, it appears that Leslie Norwalk has emerged as the replacement for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mark McClellan, who earlier this month...

WMT's generic price push fails to panic its competitors.
September 27, 2006... BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wall Street pushed the panic button last week at Wal-Mart's plan to offer nearly 300 generic drugs at $4 per prescription. But many competitors rivals took the announcement in stride. Wal-Mart began testing its new,...

St. Louis--Medicine Shoppe named Richard Chapman director of long-term care.(NEWSBITES)
September 27, 2006... ST. LOUIS -- Medicine Shoppe named Richard Chapman director of long-term care. Previously, Chapman was the general manager at ParMerica Pharmacy.

Cincinnati--Kroger named Mark Prestidge president of its delta division, effective Oct. 1.(NEWSBITES)
September 27, 2006... CINCINNATI -- Kroger named Mark Prestidge president of its delta division, effective Oct. 1. The division includes 111 Kroger locations in Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee.

Pharmacy, front-end growth propel Rite Aid same-store sales in second quarter.(financial report)(Financial report)
September 27, 2006... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid last week announced positive same-store sales gains for its second quarter ended Sept. 2, reflecting growth across its pharmacy base and sales increases across every front-end category with the exception of photo....

Report: FDA needs overhaul.(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
September 27, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration's system for approving and regulating drugs needs a major overhaul, according to a recent Institute of Medicine report. The report attributed the FDA's problems to Congress, agency officials...

CVS closes MinuteClinic deal.(MinuteClinic)(Brief article)
September 27, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS on Sept. 20 completed its acquisition of MinuteClinic, the largest provider of retail-based health clinics in the United States. MinuteClinic will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of CVS. Financial terms of...

Revlon cuts jobs, Vital Radiance.
September 27, 2006... NEW YORK -- Just a week after announcing that CFO David Kennedy will take the helm as president and CEO, Revlon stated that, in an effort to reduce costs, it will discontinue its Vital Radiance line and cut 8 percent of its U.S. work force....

WMT to reduce packaging.(packaging of Wal-Mart Stores Inc)(Brief article)
September 27, 2006... NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart Stores will start to measure its 60,000 worldwide suppliers on their ability to develop packaging and conserve natural resources, the retailer announced Friday. The initiative, to begin in 2008, is projected to reduce...

Budapest, Hungary--Actavis has dropped out of the running to acquire Croatian generics company Pliva, setting the stage for Barr Pharmaceuticals to purchase the company, making it the world's third-largest generic company behind Teva and Novartis.(FINANCIALS)
September 27, 2006... BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Actavis has dropped out of the running to acquire Croatian generics company Pliva, setting the stage for Barr Pharmaceuticals to purchase the company, making it the world's third-largest generic company behind Teva and...

Goodlettsville, Tenn.--Dollar General Corp. has extended the term of CEO David Perdue's employment contract to March 31, 2008, and made various other amendments to that agreement.(FINANCIALS)
September 27, 2006... GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General Corp. has extended the term of CEO David Perdue's employment contract to March 31, 2008, and made various other amendments to that agreement. Perdue's contract was scheduled to expire on March 31, 2007....

Los Angeles--more than 350 Wal-Mart stores this month will launch the Natural and Organic Bodycare Oasis, led by Noah's Naturals.(NEWSBITES)
September 20, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- More than 350 Wal-Mart stores this month will launch the Natural and Organic Bodycare Oasis, led by Noah's Naturals. The 4-foot set will offer natural and organic skin, body and hair care products from three brands. Wal-Mart...

Chicago--as Wal-Mart moves in on the Los Angeles market with the opening last week of a store 10 miles outside of the downtown area.(NEWSBITES)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... CHICAGO -- As Wal-Mart moves in on the Los Angeles market with the opening last week of a store 10 miles outside of the downtown area, the company will resume plans to open stores in Chicago after the city council on Sept. 13 failed to...

Woonsocket, R.I.--CVS kicks off its flu shot efforts today in about 4,500 stores, including the newly acquired Osco and Sav-on drug stores and all MinuteClinics inside CVS stores.(NEWSBITES)
September 20, 2006... WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- CVS kicks off its flu shot efforts today in about 4,500 stores, including the newly acquired Osco and Sav-on drug stores and all MinuteClinics inside CVS stores. CVS will continue the program through mid-November.

Hood River, Ore.--Rite Aid has added Eat Well Be Well Foods products to more than 3,200 locations.(NEWSBITES)
September 20, 2006... HOOD RIVER, Ore. -- Rite Aid has added Eat Well Be Well Foods products to more than 3,200 locations. The sugar-free foods are designed to assist in managing of diabetes, obesity and overall wellness.

Waxman pushes for biosimilars at GPhA conference.(Rep. Henry Waxman)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., plans to introduce legislation this year that would establish a clear pathway for the approval of generic biologic products, otherwise known as biogenerics or biosimilars, he told attendees Tuesday...

Walgreens, Joslin partner for 5-year nat'l diabetes alliance.(Walgreens will open a specialty pharmacy on the Joslin campus )(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreens and Joslin Diabetes Center on Tuesday announced a five-year diabetes alliance to develop and deliver awareness, wellness, prevention and education programs nationally. As part of the alliance with Joslin, an...

Target signs Medcor as retail clinic trend gains momentum.(SmartCare Family Medical Centers)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... MINNEAPOLIS -- Target on Monday announced a partnership with clinic operator Medcor to open Target Clinics in select Twin Cities Target stores, ending speculation about who the retailer would partner with after ending its relationship with...

NACDS names executive search firm.(National Association of Chain Drug Stores)(Russell Reynolds Associates )(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Friday announced it has selected the executive search firm of Russell Reynolds Associates to work with the organization's search committee in recruiting a new president and...

Coutu welcomes Rite Aid 'opportunity'.(Mergers and acquisitions)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... LONGUEUIL, Quebec -- The Rite Aid acquisition of The Jean Coutu Group's Brooks-Eckerd stores is an "opportunity to optimize our U.S. presence by leveraging our investment into Brooks-Eckerd into becoming a main shareholder of this...

Kroger inks PBM deal Systems Xcellence.
September 20, 2006... LOMBARD, Ill. -- Kroger Prescription Plans, Kroger's PBM services unit, has signed a three-year contract with PBM provider Systems Xcellence for its informedRx pharmacy benefit management services, the companies announced Friday. SXC...

AARP launches importation campaign.
September 20, 2006... WASHINGTON -- AARP launched on Sunday a $500,000 ad campaign urging Senate action on legislation that would let consumers buy U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canada and other countries. According to AARP spokesman Steven Hahn, the bill...

Revlon CEO, president Stahl resigns.(Kennedy also will serve as a director)(chief executive officer)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... NEW YORK -- Revlon president and CEO Jack Stahl has resigned, ending his four-year stint as head of the cosmetics manufacturer. Succeeding Stahl is David Kennedy, EVP, CFO and treasurer. Kennedy also will serve as a director. According...

CRN to launch self-regulation initiative.(Council of Responsible Nutrition)(National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus)(Brief article)
September 20, 2006... BOSTON -- The Council of Responsible Nutrition announced at its annual meeting on Monday a new initiative on self-regulating dietary supplement advertising. As part of this initiative, CRN will commit $500,000 in unrestricted grants over...

Solomon, one of the first ladies of the mass beauty business, dies at 86.(obituaries)(Obituary)
September 13, 2006... NEW ORLEANS -- Jeanette Solomon, a legend in the mass cosmetics retail business, died Sunday after a battle with cancer. She was 86 years old. Solomon, a former buyer with K&B Drug, retired in the late 1980s after 31 years in the...

Kerr Drug launches translation service as it eyes new combination-store format.
September 13, 2006... RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kerr Drug has launched a free Spanish-toEnglish translation service in its 11 drug stores in the Charleston, S.C., region, giving non-English-speaking customers an instant connection to a translator for questions about their...

Shoppers Drug Mart inks deal to carry Clinique products.(Shoppers Drug Mart contracts with Clinique)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... TORONTO -- Shoppers Drug Mart on Monday announced it has entered a long-term agreement with Clinique to sell its line of prestige cosmetic products in Canada through the chain's beauty boutique specialty shops located in select Shoppers Drug...

Elephant Pharmacy to grow store count with $26m financing.(facilities of Elephant Pharmacy )(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... BERKELEY, Calif. -- Elephant Pharmacy on Monday completed $26 million Series C equity financing that will provide strategic growth capital and be used to open new stores, as well as to make further additions to the management team to support...

Rite Aid 2Q comps up 3.8 pct.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... CAMP HILL, Pa. -- Rite Aid on Thursday reported same-store sales for its second quarter increased 3.8 percent, with pharmacy comps up 4.7 percent and front-end comps ups 2.3 percent. For the period from June 4 to Sept. 2, total drug store...

BMS' CEO, counsel resign.(Bristol-Myers Squibb Co)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... PRINCETON, N.J. -- Bristol-Myers Squibb on Tuesday reported that its CEO, Peter Dolan, is leaving his position, effective immediately. Dolan is accompanied in his hasty departure by Richard Willard, senior VP and general counsel. Filling...

Wal-Mart adds Kodak kiosks.(Eastman Kodak Co. contracts with Wal-Mart Stores Inc)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Kodak is expanding its presence inside Wal-Mart stores, with a multiyear contract announced last week for digital photo kiosk equipment and consumables, adding 2,000 Kodak Picture Kiosks to 1,000 Wal-Mart stores. ...

Mayor vetoes 'big box' bill.(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... CHICAGO -- The battle of the city's "livingwage" legislation looks to be in its final throws. Mayor Richard M. Daley vetoed the ordinance Monday, and the city council has two days to override the veto if the law is to take effect. The...

NPHF places Wisner as policy fellow.(Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Nurse Practitioner Healthcare Foundation on Tuesday announced its second policy fellowship in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Catherine Wisner, VP of clinical quality at MinuteClinic, begins a two-year...

Corona, Calif. -- Watson Pharmaceuticals has received final approval for generic Seasonale, Barr's extendedcycle oral contraceptive under the name Quasense.(NEWSBITES)(Watson Pharmaceuticals receive an approval)(Brief article)
September 13, 2006... CORONA, Calif. -- Watson Pharmaceuticals has received final approval for generic Seasonale, Barr's extendedcycle oral contraceptive under the name Quasense. Responding to the release, Barr immediately announced the launch of an authorized...

Dallas--MedXpress on Aug. 30 opened its first retail clinic in the new Carnival Super Store in Oak Cliff, marking the first in-store clinic in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.(new Carnival Super Store in Oak Cliff)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... Dallas -- MedXpress on Aug. 30 opened its first retail clinic in the new Carnival Super Store in Oak Cliff, marking the first in-store clinic in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. As Drug Store News reported June 9, the Oak Cliff location is the...

Whitehouse Station, N.J.--Merck won the first reversal of a damage award over its Vioxx painkiller last week when Judge Eldon Fallon of U.S. District Court said a $51 million verdict was "grossly excessive.".(NEWSBITES)
September 6, 2006... Whitehouse Station, N.J. -- Merck won the first reversal of a damage award over its Vioxx painkiller last week when Judge Eldon Fallon of U.S. District Court said a $51 million verdict was "grossly excessive." However, Fallon did not overturn...

Hartford, Conn.--Aetna on Friday announced that RediClinic has become a participating provider, marking the retail clinic's first agreement with a health plan.(NEWSBITES)
September 6, 2006... Hartford, Conn. -- Aetna on Friday announced that RediClinic has become a participating provider, marking the retail clinic's first agreement with a health plan. The agreement supplements Aetna's recent relationship with MinuteClinic.

Boulder, Colo.--Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy announced plans last week to open a store in South Boulder before the Christmas holidays.(NEWSBITES)
September 6, 2006... Boulder, Colo. -- Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy announced plans last week to open a store in South Boulder before the Christmas holidays. The new Pharmaca will be store No. 12 for the chain and the third in Boulder.

Medicare Part D champion McClellan to leave CMS.(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Dr. Mark McClellan, who worked overtime to win the support and confidence of retail pharmacy groups as he championed the new Medicare Part D drug benefit program, revealed today he plans to resign as administrator of the Centers...

Court: compliant pharmacists may compound drugs.(valid prescription of drugs)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... MIDLAND, Texas -- In a huge victory for pharmacists, a federal judge has ruled that state-compliant pharmacists may compound drugs if they have a valid prescription and do not create "new drugs" or "animal drugs," requiring FDA approval. ...

FDA warns against counterfeit drugs from Canadian sites.
September 6, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration is warning American consumers not to buy or use prescription drugs from several Canadian Web sites that allegedly sell counterfeit products. The agency is warning against purchasing from Web...

Krahulec, retail pharmacy veteran, dies at NACDS Rx show.(Obituary)(Obituary)
September 6, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Chain drug veteran Jim Krahulec died suddenly while attending the NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference on Aug. 29. Krahulec, whose abrupt passing stunned his many friends and admirers at the event, was eulogized by NACDS...

Grocers sign up for training.(LearnSomething)(Wegmans Food Markets )(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- E-learning provider LearnSomething last month signed Meijer to join Wegmans Food Markets as an alpha partner in the development of "Prepare to Sell." "Prepare to Sell" is an online training program designed to improve the...

Court blocks generic Plavix.(blocked Apotex from selling its generic version of Plavix )
September 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- A New York federal judge has blocked Canadian company Apotex from selling its generic version of Plavix but denied requests for a product recall. Apotex began selling its product, clopidogrel, Aug. 8 after negotiations with...

Meijer co-CEO to step down.(Paul Boyer will step down from his position)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer co-CEO Paul Boyer will step down from his position by year's end, the company confirmed Thursday. Boyer, who joined the company in 1970 and assumed positions of increasing responsibility over the years, was...

Pfizer wins Norvasc lawsuit.(most popular branded hypertension drug)(generic version of amlodipine besylate)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... NEW YORK -- Pfizer has won a patent challenge by generic drug manufacturer Synthon Pharmaceuticals, over the active ingredient (API) in Norvasc, the world's most popular branded hypertension drug. The decision by a federal court in North...

Deerfield, Ill.--Walgreen Co. on Tuesday reported August sales rose 17.2 percent to $4.18 billion and same-store sales gained 10.6 percent.(FINANCIALS)
September 6, 2006... Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. on Tuesday reported August sales rose 17.2 percent to $4.18 billion and same-store sales gained 10.6 percent. Comp-store front-end sales increased 6.3 percent. Pharmacy sales increased 19.6 percent, while...

Woonsocket, R.I.--CVS Corp. on Tuesday reported record August revenues of $3.4 billion, up 23.4 percent from the impact of the June 2 acquisition of 701 stand-alone Sav-On and Osco drug stores.(FINANCIALS)
September 6, 2006... Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS Corp. on Tuesday reported record August revenues of $3.4 billion, up 23.4 percent from the impact of the June 2 acquisition of 701 stand-alone Sav-On and Osco drug stores. Same-store sales increased 8.9 percent and...

Walnut Creek, Calif.--Longs Drug posted a 2 percent increase in same-store sales for the August and a nearly 10 percent gain in total revenue.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 6, 2006... Walnut Creek, Calif. -- Longs Drug posted a 2 percent increase in same-store sales for the August and a nearly 10 percent gain in total revenue. Pharmacy sales increased 6 percent for the month but were offset by a 1.6 percent decline in...

Bentonville, Ark.--Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday reported net sales grew in August as consumers purchased back-to-school items and the higher temperatures fueled sales of air conditioners.(FINANCIALS)
September 6, 2006... Bentonville, Ark.--Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday reported net sales grew in August as consumers purchased back-to-school items and the higher temperatures fueled sales of air conditioners. Wal-Mart reported domestic sales were up 8.1 percent to...