Lupin 2024

Issue 08-13-2018

Pressure on pharmaceutical prices expected to persist

Pressure on pharmaceutical prices expected to persist

NEW YORK — Pricing pressures have become the new normal for the pharmaceutical industry. Three main factors are forcing down drug prices: government pressure, patent losses and the rise of generics. In developed markets, governments account for nearly 76% of spending on hospitals and other medical services. As a result, rising government measures to curb

Wholesalers give overlooked channel pivotal support

Wholesalers give overlooked channel pivotal support

NEW YORK — There is no question that consumer shopping behavior is forcing brick-and-mortar retailers, e-commerce providers and consumer packaged goods companies to look for new growth opportunities and ways of providing differentiated shopping and brand experiences. One channel that is growing, and often overlooked, is the independent pharmacy channel, at over 22,000 stores strong.

Current Rx payment system needs to be changed

Current Rx payment system needs to be changed

NEW YORK — Physicians Robin Warren and Barry Marshall were practically laughed out of health care in 1982 when they suggested that a type of bacteria might be causing stomach ulcers. It took more than a decade before their theory that treating ulcers with antibiotics to kill H. pylori bacteria was validated, and it radically

Amazon moves to crack the pharmacy market

Amazon moves to crack the pharmacy market

NEW YORK — Amazon.com’s venture into the pharmacy market has finally been confirmed. On June 28, Amazon announced that it had entered into an agreement to buy U.S.-based online pharmacy PillPack. Amazon did not reveal details of the consideration, but CNBC reported that Amazon made an offer of $1 billion to acquire PillPack after Walmart

Community pharmacy confronts an Amazon-size headache

Community pharmacy confronts an Amazon-size headache

NEW YORK — For the pharmaceutical industry, and particularly drug store retail chains like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, Amazon.com is about to become a headache that not even the strongest pain meds can cure. The e-commerce behemoth recently announced its intent to purchase online pharmacy PillPack to the tune of around $1 billion in cash,

Preserving the impact of biopharmaceutical innovation

Preserving the impact of biopharmaceutical innovation

NEW YORK — Health care economists, health system leaders and policy makers have been talking seriously about measuring and paying for value in health care for more than a decade. Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and practitioners across the country now are starting to move in that direction, incentivized since 2015 by Medicare’s adoption of alternative care

How to navigate disruption in retail pharmacy

How to navigate disruption in retail pharmacy

NEW YORK – Few industries have escaped the radical shifting of landscape that has been the collateral damage of digitization. Events that were originally called “market disruptions” have become a steady rain of complex, turbulent shifts, leaving even the most adaptive companies struggling to keep up. Disruption in retail pharmacy Although retail pharmacy seemed somewhat

PillPack buy shows Amazon’s outcome-first approach

PillPack buy shows Amazon’s outcome-first approach

NEW YORK — A year after announcing it was acquiring Whole Foods Market, Amazon.com made a splash again, this time in the health care sector. On June 28, Amazon entered into an agreement to buy PillPack, an online pharmacy that offers presorted doses of medications and home delivery, for an estimated $1 billion. PillPack also

Using drug spend, utilization data to improve outcomes

Using drug spend, utilization data to improve outcomes

NEW YORK — Thanks to the ever-growing applications of data analytics technology, chain drug stores have a unique opportunity to create benefits ranging from improved member outcomes to lowered spending. While the situation is evolving and the trail to driving better member health and reducing costs is still being blazed, chain pharmacies are recognizing the

HealthMarket store unveiled by Hy-Vee

HealthMarket store unveiled by Hy-Vee

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee Inc. has opened its first HealthMarket here, a concept store envisioned as a one-stop shop for consumers looking to lead a healthy, more natural ­lifestyle. The 15,700-square-foot store combines several of the initiatives and partnerships Hy-Vee has undertaken in recent years to spur growth and keep current in a

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