EL PASO, Texas — Helen of Troy Ltd. has closed its deal to acquire the PUR water purification product business from Procter & Gamble Co. The company said Tuesday that it projects PUR brand sales at about $110 million annually and that the acquisition will be immediately accretive to earnings. Helen of Troy had announced
GREEN BAY, Wis. and OMAHA, Neb. — Shopko Stores and Pamida plan to merge, which will create a chain drug retailer with nearly 300 pharmacy locations in more than 20 states. The two general merchandise retailers — both owned by affiliates of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners — said Wednesday that they expect the
WASHINGTON — The move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to let states set their own definitions of "essential health benefits" covered by plans in upcoming health insurance exchanges spells opportunity for pharmacists, according to the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). Pointing to a bulletin issued last month by HHS, APhA reported
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — This month, Sam’s Club plans to offer an array of free health screenings and smoking cessation consultations as people get under way with their New Year’s resolutions. The Walmart warehouse club chain, which has more than 500 pharmacies, said that on Jan. 14 it will provide customers a simple checkup that screens
As the new year dawns, it’s not premature to recognize some of the chain drug store people who helped make 2011 memorable — or, at the least, not easily forgotten. Here, in no particular order, are 10 chain drug industry executives who made a big impact during 2011: • Greg Wasson, Walgreens’ president and CEO.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — In March, the Food and Drug Administration plans to deploy a single, shared Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for the transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl (TIRF) products. The FDA said the new shared system, called the TIRF REMS Access Program, will replace the individual REMS and enable prescribers and pharmacies to enroll
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Actavis Group has started shipping Clobetasol Propionate Shampoo and Clobetasol Propionate Lotion, indicated for the treatment of eczema and psoriasis. The company said Tuesday that the products are generic equivalents to Galderma’s Clobex Shampoo and Clobex Topical Lotion. Actavis also reported that because of its first-to-file status, the Food and Drug Administration
JERUSALEM — Shlomo Yanai, president and chief executive officer of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., plans to retire in May, and the company has named Jeremy Levin, a former senior executive at Bristol-Myers Squibb to succeed him. Israel-based Teva announced the move, which it said is part of a succession plan, late Sunday evening. According to
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has launched a service on its website that enables beneficiaries of Tricare, the U.S. armed forces’ health and prescription drug benefit program, to transfer their prescriptions to one of its drug stores. The move comes as CVS rival Walgreen Co. ceased participation in the pharmacy provider network of Express Scripts Inc.,
CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. has kicked off the new year with a new customer savings promotion called Resolution Rewards. The drug store chain said that Resolution Rewards, which began Sunday and runs through Jan. 28, makes it easy for members of its wellness+ customer loyalty program "to resolve to save more in
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Now that it’s officially out of the Express Scripts Inc. pharmacy network, Walgreen Co. has served up a transition plan for patients who receive prescription drug benefits through the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). Dubbed the Walgreens Patient Transition Plan, the initiative aims to help Express Scripts-covered pharmacy patients to continue using Walgreens
ITASCA, Ill. — Another Supervalu Inc. food and drug chain has made a pitch to Walgreens pharmacy customers with Express Scripts Inc. prescription drug benefit plans. Jewel-Osco, which has 181 supermarkets in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana, said late last week that it’s enhancing its pharmacy services to welcome patients with Express Scripts prescription coverage that
NEW YORK — The editors of Chain Drug Review have named the employees of Walgreen Co. — and more particularly, five of the company’s top executives — as the publication’s 2011 Chain Drug Retailers of the Year. 2011 Retailer Of The Year: Walgreens In a larger sense, the five executives — chief executive officer Greg
NEW YORK — Though uncertainty still surrounds the economy and the U.S. health care reform law, North American drug chains have carved out a role as wellness providers. The accessibility and trustworthiness of pharmacies and pharmacists — combined with the convenience of front-end offerings, including healthful food — have made drug stores indispensable for people
