Long AMP battle comes to a close
Three years after a federal judge blocked the government from lowering Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement rates, the issue will be officially over this month.
CDR
Acquisitions extend reach of Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health Inc. plans to acquire Kinray Inc. for $1.3 billion and has completed a $470 million purchase of Yong Yu, the largest drug importer in China. The Kinray deal will significantly expand the No.
Canadian pharmacy operators assess position
Speakers at the Canadian Foundation for Pharmacy’s recent forum here weighed in on whether the recent shift in the Canadian pharmacy paradigm was merely a tremor or a seismic shift.
Novartis teams with Emerson Group for niche brand support
Novartis Consumer Health Inc. has partnered with the Emerson Group to bolster marketing and promotional support for over a dozen of its niche over-the-counter medicine and personal care brands.
Kroger, Safeway join UnitedHealthcare Rx network
Kroger Co. and Safeway Inc. are participating in a new UnitedHealthcare Medicare Part D plan offering drugs for as little as $2 per prescription and promising to save members hundreds of dollars next year. The introduction follows the debut of a plan by Walmart and Humana Inc.
Cyber Monday a boon for drugstore.com
An increased number of shoppers are turning to the Internet this holiday season, and initial reports are that they are responding to promotions and spending more.
SDM may face class-action suit
A proposed class-action lawsuit claiming Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) collected excessive funds from franchisees is baseless, the company says.
AmerisourceBergen tabs president
Steven Collis has been named president and chief operating officer of AmerisourceBergen Corp. The 49-year-old Collis had been executive vice president of the drug distributor and president of AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. (ABDC), the company’s largest subsidiary.
CVS Caremark offers insights on adherence
A CVS Caremark Corp.-sponsored study found that patients who face co-pays of $50 are almost four times more likely to abandon prescriptions at a pharmacy than those paying $10.
At bottom, Shewmaker was a great retailer
Jack Shewmaker’s sudden death in mid-November, the result of a massive heart attack at his home in Bentonville, Ark.
Once again, Walmart impacts health care
New evidence of Walmart’s ability to influence the development of the health care market emerged last month when UnitedHealthcare and its Prescription Solutions division teamed up with Kroger Co. and Safeway Inc.
Walmart veteran named CVS/pharmacy president
CVS Caremark Corp. has appointed Hank Mullany as president of CVS/pharmacy, taking over that role from president and chief operating officer Larry Merlo. The drug store and pharmacy benefit management company said Friday that Mullany will take the reins as CVS/pharmacy president on Dec 6.
Prestige Brands names new CFO
Ron Lombardi has been appointed chief financial officer of over-the-counter health and household products marketer Prestige Brands Holdings Inc. Prestige Brands said late Thursday that Lombardi will take over the CFO post on Dec. 6.
Merck to acquire SmartCells
Merck & Co. has unveiled an agreement to buy SmartCells Inc., a private company developing a unique technology for the treatment of diabetes. Under the deal announced Thursday, Merck said it plans to acquire all outstanding stock of Beverly, Mass.-based SmartCells.
Endo closes deal to buy Qualitest
Endo Pharmaceuticals said this week that it has completed its acquisition of generic drug maker Qualitest Pharmaceuticals. Endo had announced in late September that it entered into an agreement to acquire Qualitest for about $1.2 billion in cash.
Shoppers Drug Mart event ramps up loyalty savings
This weekend, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. plans to step up the savings for customers in its Shoppers Optimum loyalty card program. The Canadian drug store chain said that on Dec.