Full Senate takes up debate about health care reform
Senators have dug in for a prolonged floor fight on health care reform, even after voting on their first two amendments.
CDR
CMS policy on Part D is at issue
Pharmacy operators and drug wholesalers say they fear that a new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy could prevent certain medications for chronic conditions from being covered by Medicare Part D.
Walgreens executive ranks undergo more shifts
Walgreen Co. continues to shuffle its upper management ranks, bringing in new executives and moving others to new roles.
Chain drug sales solid in November
Chain drug retailers posted strong sales gains in November. Overall sales for the trade class advanced 8.3% from results in the prior-year period, while same-store sales increased by 4%. Walgreen Co. was among the drug chains recording solid results for the month.
Drugstore.com has best day ever
Online retailer drugstore.com inc. reported a strong start to its holiday selling season. On Cyber Monday, traditionally the kickoff of the online holiday shopping season, the company reported its highest number of orders ever.
Incidence of swine flu cases abating
The level of flu activity across the nation dropped in November, federal health officials said earlier this month, indicating that the second wave of the swine flu pandemic in the United States has peaked.
Three plan to leave board at Walgreens
Three longtime members of Walgreen Co.’s board of directors will step down next month, including Charles R. (Cork) Walgreen III, the grandson of the company’s founder.
Rogue Web pharmacies draw fire from NACDS
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has submitted a letter to the Food and Drug Administration expressing its concern that rogue Internet pharmacies are engaging in a pattern of illegal activity.
Walgreens enhances its web site
Walgreen Co. has relaunched its web site, adding a variety of healthy living and product resources, expanding the shopping tools and services it offers, and making the site easier to navigate.
NACDS is hub of chain drug industry
For four days at the beginning of December, NACDS brought the chain drug industry briefly to life, by the simple expedient of gathering the retailer and supplier communities together in New York City for a series of business and social events.
What science-based guidelines mean for Rx
Retail pharmacy operators and other health care providers recently were given a preview of the difficulties involved in implementing the findings of comparative effectiveness research, a science-based approach to evaluating the benefits and potential dangers of alternative forms of diagnosis and tre
Central Florida Walgreens pharmacies offer swine flu shots
More than 100 Walgreens pharmacies in central Florida have started providing H1N1 "swine flu" vaccinations. Walgreen Co. said Monday that H1N1 injectable and nasal vaccines are now being offered at drug stores in Florida’s Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Sumter and Marion counties.
Bristol-Myers Squibb names acting CFO
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. has appointed Charles Bancroft as acting chief financial officer, effective January 1. The pharmaceutical company said Monday that Jean-Marc Huet, executive vice president and CFO, will leave the firm at the end of this year.
Retailers cross fingers for holiday sales lift
Drug store chains and other mass retailers are hoping that better days are ahead after scratching out a slim sales increase in November. Same-store sales (excluding Wal-Mart Stores Inc.) for the month were up 0.9% year over year, down from a 2.3% increase in October, according to Retail Forward.
Alberto Culver to acquire Simple Health & Beauty
Alberto Culver Co. plans to buy Simple Health & Beauty Ltd., a United Kingdom-based skin care supplier, from private equity fund Duke Street for 240 million pounds ($390 million). The deal is expected to close by the end of this year, Alberto Culver said Monday. The company noted that Simple is
Study: Organic products not drawing more consumers
Although many traditional retailers are expanding their offerings of organic food and beauty products, there has actually been no growth in the number of U.S. consumers that purchase these products, according to a study by market research firm TABS Group.