CDR – Chain Drug Review - Reporter for the Chain Drug Industry

NACDS praises Congress’ call for DIR fee reform

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the growing effort to achieve pro-patient and pro-pharmacy reforms of direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees in Medicare Part D, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores today hailed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar signed by

Naloxone available at Rite Aid pharmacies in 19 states

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. announced that naloxone is now available at each of the more than 2,500 Rite Aid pharmacies in the United States and can be dispensed without a prescription, subject to state regulations. “The opioid epidemic has reached epic proportions

Study predicts 2018 flu vaccine will have 20% efficacy

HOUSTON — A recent Rice University study predicts the flu vaccine for fall 2018 — a new H3N2 formulation for the first time since 2015 — will likely have the same reduced efficacy against the dominant circulating strain of influenza A as the vaccine given in

NACDS Foundation sponsors March of Dimes Gourmet Gala

ARLINGTON, Va. — During the March of Dimes Gourmet Gala in Washington Tuesday, April 17, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Foundation returned as a Platinum Sponsor of the event. The Gourmet Gala makes possible research, education, advocacy and programs that “help more

P&G will acquire Merck KGaA’s consumer health unit

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) has agreed to acquire the consumer health business from Germany’s Merck KGaA , in a $4.2 billion deal that adds vitamins and food supplements to its lineup of over-the-counter medicines. The deal said to be one of the

RETAIL NEWS

mscripts rolls out mobile prescription payments

SAN FRANCISCO — mscripts, a leading cloud-based mobile pharmacy platform, announced several key features aimed at providing patients with price transparency and the ability to pay for prescriptions through their mobile phones. mscripts’ pharmacy patients can now pre-pay for their prescriptions through the app, giving

CVS Pharmacy unveils first campaign featuring unaltered beauty imagery

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health, has rolled out “Beauty in Real Life,” the first advertising campaign to demonstrate the retailer’s commitment, announced in January, to creating new standards for beauty imagery in order to highlight an authentic and more

Walgreens #ItEndsWithUs campaign heads to Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES— Walgreens announced its national “#ItEndsWithUs” campaign comes to Los Angeles to educate local teens on the opioid epidemic. The campaign will feature actor Brandon Larracuente from the popular Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why” and “Bloodline.” Larracuente, who lost a close friend to opioid

IRI 2018 Summit wrap up: Staying one step ahead

LAS VEGAS — The IRI 2018 Growth Summit wrapped up this week at the Wynn Las Vegas. The three-day conference (April 16-18) brought together leaders from the world’s top CPG manufacturers, retailers and media agencies, as well as IRI’s extensive partner ecosystem. The theme of

Atlanta is top Red Nose Day fundraiser

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In support of the fourth annual Red Nose Day in the U.S., Walgreens today released the latest rankings for its Every One Counts Hometown Challenge, which shows Atlanta as the top market for overall Red Nose Day fundraising activity. The challenge features 10

SUPPLIER NEWS

The Emerson Group expands into Canada

WAYNE, Pa. – The Emerson Group has executed an agreement to merge the operations of McCaughey Consumer Products (MCP) allowing the combined operations to offer a North American Retail Solution to manufactures in the Health and Wellness space. Emerson Canada will provide manufacturers with a

MPG Group adds Bill Bergin, Todd Matherly to team

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J. — Market Performance Group LLC (MPG) has hired retail industry veterans Bill Bergin and Todd Matherly to serve as executive vice presidents of the consulting and sales management services company. Bergin, who recently served as joins MPG from his position as group

New contact lens case from Bausch + Lomb gets clearance from FDA

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Bausch + Lomb announced that the company’s Specialty Vision Products business has received 510(K) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Boston scleral lens case, a storage case developed specifically for scleral lenses. The case is designed to

Novartis appoints John Tsai head of global drug development and chief medical officer

BASEL, Switzerland — Novartis has appointed John Tsai as the company’s head of global drug development (GDD) and chief medical officer and will begin his new role on May 1. Tsai will report to Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan and will become a member of the

Wahl Trimmers reveals most facial hair friendly cities in America

STERLING, Ill. – Facial hair enthusiasm from the women of Philadelphia was a contributing factor in the fifth annual ‘Most Facial Hair Friendly Cities in America’ research study from men’s grooming leader Wahl, and helped the city skyrocket to the No. 1 spot. To celebrate