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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.

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.

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

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.

Walgreens sees a rebound in same-store sales

Helped by calendar day shifts and solid pharmacy business, Walgreen Co. turned in a comparable-store sales gain in November after experiencing a decrease the previous month. The drug chain said Friday that same-store sales for November (excluding the acquired Duane Reade stores) rose 3.2%.