DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreen Co. has launched a new online tool that lets customers choose a pharmacist by matching their health care needs with the expertise, specialties, languages and clinical backgrounds of Walgreens pharmacists. Find Your Pharmacist enables users to search pharmacist profiles to find the expertise that best suits their health needs. The drug store
TORONTO — The Ontario Pharmacists’ Association (OPA) called an Ontario government plan to cut pharmacy reimbursement for generic drugs misguided, noting that such a move would mark the second such reduction in two years. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty late Friday announced 2012 budget maneuvers that included a proposal to lower the cost of the top 10 generic
ELMSFORD, N.Y. — BioScrip Inc. has named Hai Tran as senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. The company said late Monday that Tran is slated to take over the CFO post on May 14 from Mary Jane Graves, who has been serving as interim CFO and treasurer since January 2011. Plans call for MJ
ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch is expanding its Bud Light lineup with Bud Light Lime Lime-a-Rita, which the company said gives a fresh twist to a classic summer cocktail, the margarita. Bud Light Lime also now sports new packaging. The beer giant said Monday that Bud Light Lime Lime-a-Rita blends the flavor of an authentic margarita
LONDON and SAN DIEGO — AstraZeneca plans to buy Ardea Biosciences Inc. in a cash deal valued at $1.26 billion. The companies said Monday that they expect the transaction to close in the second or third quarter of this year. The clinically most advanced product candidate of Ardea, a San Diego-based biotech firm focused on
NEW YORK — Pfizer has unveiled a deal to sell its pediatric nutrition business to Nestle for $11.85 billion in cash. The pharmaceuticals giant said Monday that the divestiture of Pfizer Nutrition, which had revenue of about $2.1 billion in 2011, up 15% year over year, is slated to be completed by the first half
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. has launched an authorized generic version of Fortamet, a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Watson began shipping the product late last week. The company said it released the authorized generic of Fortamet (metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) as part of an agreement with Shionogi Inc. Fortamet is indicated as an
NEW YORK — Chain drug stores have responded well to the changing marketplace over the past year and bolstered their prospects for growth in 2012, industry analysts say. “We have a constructive outlook for the drug retailers in 2012, as the companies benefit from the generics wave, specialty drug growth and front-end drivers (mobile/e-commerce growth,
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has elected Greg Wasson, president and chief executive officer of Walgreen Co., as the new NACDS chairman and announced the election of other new officers, a new executive committee member and five new board members. NACDS said Monday that Wasson will chair the association for
DEERFIELD, Ill. — A large percentage of Americans don’t know the government-recommended vaccinations for their age and health condition, according to a Walgreen Co. survey. Walgreens said Monday that the online poll of over 1,000 U.S. adults found that 42% are unaware of the recommended immunizations, while 53% aren’t diligent about regular checkups with their
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Government and health care decision makers are exhibiting a rising appreciation of the role that community pharmacy services can play in improving the quality and lowering the cost of health care, National Association of Chain Drug Stores president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson said at the NACDS Annual Meeting. "I know
LONGUEUIL, Quebec — The Jean Coutu Group has sold more than 20% of its equity stake in Rite Aid Corp. Jean Coutu said late Friday that it completed the sale of 56 million, or nearly 24%, of its 234.4 million common shares of Rite Aid. The sale of the shares lowers Jean Coutu’s interest in
PALM BEACH, Fla. — As National Association of Chain Drug Stores chairman Bob Loeffler sees it, the record-breaking participation in this year’s NACDS RxImpact Day on Capitol Hill shows the effect that proactive member engagement can have. H-E-B’s Bob Loeffler, chairman of NACDS. The H-E-B executive, speaking Sunday during a business program at the NACDS
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is focused on growing its front-end business as it builds on the strong foundation established in recent years. Judy Strauss Sansone The goal, according to senior vice president of merchandising Judy Strauss Sansone, is to deliver the most accessible and personalized retail experience, and CVS has several means to achieve it.
