NEW YORK — Competition remains fierce in the chain pharmacy industry, albeit with a decreasing number of players. If the pending acquisition of Rite Aid Corp. by Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. goes through, the field will diminish dramatically, especially in major metropolitan areas. Depending on the number of stores WBA divests to meet antitrust requirements,
Two months remain in 2016, and the news out of the chain drug industry remains relatively scanty. Industry gatherings are few and far between — indeed, three months have passed since the NACDS Total Store Expo gathered the industry together in Boston. Against that background, the NACDS year-end meetings, scheduled for New York City following
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. is offering assistance to seniors as the open enrollment period for Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits is now under way. Rite Aid said Friday that through Dec. 7, its nearly 4,600 pharmacies are providing free resources to help seniors choose a Part D prescription drug plan or
Not much else about the progress of the Walgreens-Rite Aid merger came out in yesterday’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call by Walgreens Boots Alliance. A swirl of media reports in recent months have gone back and forth about the number of store divestitures and whether the Federal Trade Commission will end up signing off on the
DEERFIELD, Ill. — As talks roll on to gain regulatory clearance for its acquisition of Rite Aid Corp., Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) posted adjusted earnings for its fiscal 2016 fourth quarter and full year that beat Wall Street’s estimates. WBA said Thursday that GAAP net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance totaled $1.03 billion, or
DEERFIELD, Ill., and CAMP HILL, Pa. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Rite Aid Corp. are expanding the time frame for completing their planned $17.2 billion merger deal. WBA and Rite Aid said Thursday that they have extended the end date for the agreement to Jan. 27, 2017, from Oct. 27, 2016, and expect the
NEW YORK — Speculation continues to percolate about snags holding up Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s (WBA’s) acquisition of Rite Aid Corp. Last last month the New York Post reported that private equity firms were uninterested in purchasing 650 stores that WBA must divest to satisfy antitrust requirements. Investors found the stores to be subpar and
CAMP HILL, Pa. — In recognition of American Pharmacists Month during October, Rite Aid Corp. has kicked off its 13th annual Vote for Your Favorite Pharmacy Team Member contest. The drug chain said Monday that through Oct. 31, customers can vote for their favorite pharmacy team member by completing a mail-in nomination form a Rite
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The Rite Aid Foundation helped launch the DreamShip, a hot air balloon that will embark on a year-long journey to raise awareness of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit group that provides educational scholarships to children of fallen or disabled armed services members. The DreamShip made its official debut Thursday in an
It looks like one divestment possibility for Walgreens Boots Alliance isn’t panning out as it works with the Federal Trade Commission to gain antitrust clearance for its acquisition of Rite Aid. The New York Post reported this week that WBA hasn’t been able to sway private equity firms to buy a chunk of Walgreens and/or
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has expanded nonprescription access to naloxone, an opioid-overdose reversal drug, to four more states. Rite Aid said Tuesday that naloxone is now available without a prescription at more than 440 pharmacies in Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont, subject to state regulations. Previously, naloxone — administered by injection or
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and EnvisionRx are launching a prescription drug program that is designed to give patients with chronic conditions more flexibility in getting their maintenance medications. Called Rx90, the program allows patients to fill 90-day prescriptions at any of the nearly 8,200 Walgreens pharmacies nationwide for the same price they would pay for
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (WBA) has upped the number of stores that it expects to divest to gain government clearance for its $17.2 billion purchase of Rite Aid Corp. WBA said this month that between 500 and 1,000 Walgreens and/or Rite Aid stores will probably have to be divested to win Federal
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Despite an uptick in total sales, lower drug reimbursement rates and script count trimmed profits at Rite Aid Corp. for its fiscal 2017 second quarter. Rite Aid also said Thursday that it continues to expect its acquisition by Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) Inc., a $17.2 billion deal announced Oct. 27, to
