Rite Aid serves up pertussis vaccinations
Responding to a rise in the number of whooping cough cases across the country, Rite Aid Corp. is alerting consumers that the pertussis vaccine is available at most of its drug stores.
CDR
Target unveils pharmacy model for Canada
Target Corp. has unveiled its pharmacy strategy for its planned Canadian stores. The U.S. discount store chain, slated to open its first Canadian locations in March-April 2013, said this week that it aims to operate pharmacies in as many stores in Canada as possible.
Prestige Brands closes purchase of 15 GSK brands
Prestige Brands Holdings Inc. said it has completed its purchase of 15 of the 17 over-the-counter medicine brands that it agreed to acquire from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
PBM dispute impacts Walgreens’ January sales
Walgreen Co. saw same-store sales drop in January amid a sharp decline in its pharmacy business, which took a hit from the company’s stand-off with pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc. Walgreens said Friday that comparable-store sales in January fell 4.6%, despite a 0.
Mylan gets tentative approval for Lipitor generic
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Mylan Inc. tentative approval for atorvastatin calcium tablets, a generic version of Pfizer Inc.’s blockbuster Lipitor cholesterol-lowering medication. Mylan said Thursday that its Mylan Laboratories Ltd. subsidiary (former Matrix Laboratories Ltd.
Schick Xtreme3 debuts eco-friendly razor
Schick has introduced the Xtreme3 Eco, which it said is the first disposable razor to use 100% recycled plastic in the production of its handle and 100% post-consumer paper in its packaging. The Energizer Holdings Inc.
HHS tallies Medicare Rx savings from health reform
Last year, the Affordable Care Act health care reform law saved 3.6 million people with Medicare $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
NACDS Foundation begins PREP funding, announces scholarship winners
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation this week launched its second round of funding for the Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project (Community PREP) and announced the winners of the 2011 Pharmacy Student Scholarship Awards.
Zicam maker Matrixx appoints Arnett as CEO
Personal health care products veteran M’lou Arnett has joined Matrixx Initiatives Inc., maker of the Zicam cold, sinus and allergy remedy line, as chief executive officer. Matrixx said Wednesday that the 47-year-old Arnett, previously chief operating officer of Scerene Healthcare Inc.
CVS Caremark names government affairs exec
Larry Burton has been hired as senior vice president of government affairs at CVS Caremark Corp. CVS Caremark said Thursday that Burton, who previously was executive director at Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C., will join the company on Feb. 27.
Rite Aid’s same-store sales stay on growth path
Gains in both the front end and pharmacy propelled Rite Aid Corp. to another month of increased same-store sales in January. Rite Aid said Thursday that for the four weeks ended Jan. 28, comparable-store sales climbed 2.2% from a year earlier. That fell short of the 3.6% comp-store sales gain in
Walgreens buys BioScrip’s specialty pharmacy unit
Walgreen Co. is acquiring the community specialty pharmacy and centralized specialty and mail service pharmacy businesses of BioScrip Inc. for about $225 million. The companies said Thursday that for Elmsford, N.Y.
KOMA Unwind drinks to hit shelves at Duane Reade
Bebida Beverage Co. (BeBevCo) is slated to roll out its relaxation and energy drinks at Duane Reade drug stores. BeBevCo said Tuesday that it has acquired a vendor number with Duane Reade, a subsidiary of Walgreen Co.
Crossmark creates unit for drug, value retailing
Sales and marketing specialist Crossmark has formed a new business unit for the drug and value retail channels.
Drug chains zero in on heart health
Chain drug retailers Rite Aid Corp. and Walgreen Co. have kicked off heart health initiatives in recognition of American Heart Month in February.
CVS enables prescription text alerts
CVS/pharmacy has launched Order Ready Text Messaging, which allows customers to get text messages to notify them when their prescription is ready to be picked up.