The last few years have been a rocky road for the cold and allergy category. From the methamphetamine ruling that put pseudoephedrine (PSE) products behind the counter, to concerns over the use of cold medicines in young children and product recalls from a major product manufacturer, the category has faced many challenges. Despite these hurdles,
It is well known that the home health care category is poised for substantial growth over the next few decades. For years industry professionals have been pointing to the unprecedented number of Americans about to enter older adulthood. The numbers are startling. More than 7,500 Americans will turn 65 each day in 2011. By 2025
NEW YORK — Is social media the retailing wave of the future, or will it minimize store visits and decrease basket sizes? Whatever the answer is, retailers and suppliers agree that it’s here to stay, and they are dramatically boosting their links with shoppers through Facebook and Twitter as well as through mobile web sites
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With Congress searching for ways to trim federal spending, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores is embarking on an advertising campaign to ensure that new lawmakers are aware of the role that community pharmacy can play in controlling health care costs. “We have a very narrow and finite target audience,” says
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Community pharmacies are the “backbone” of the Medicaid drug benefit, says Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. Anderson made that point in a letter to governors and state Medicaid directors cowritten with Kathleen Jaeger, executive vice president and chief executive of the National
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Larry Merlo has assumed the role of chief executive officer of CVS Caremark Corp. Merlo, who also holds the title of president, succeeded Tom Ryan, who will remain nonexecutive chairman until his retirement at the company’s annual shareholders meeting in May. “After more than 20 years, I know this organization, its values
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Hal Rosenbluth has announced his retirement as president of Walgreen Co.’s health and wellness division effective in April, but he plans to continue with the company as a senior consultant for health care services. Rosenbluth was a cofounder of Take Care Health Systems, which was acquired by Walgreens in 2007. Before that,
WASHINGTON — In a proposal that could appease some critics of federal health care reform, President Obama says he will support moving up the timetable in which states may opt out of the law. Speaking before the National Governors Association, the president said that he would approve allowing states to opt out of the Affordable
NEW YORK — The nation’s two largest drug store chains — Walgreen Co. and CVS Caremark Corp. — are ramping up their efforts to drive private label sales. Walgreens has launched its first national ad campaign for its store brand H&BAs, while CVS/pharmacy has debuted nearly 100 household essentials under the Just the Basics private
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Drugstore.com says the proliferation of mobile applications and social media will help its sales climb to at least $750 million by 2013. The online retailer, which also operates the sites beauty.com, skinstore.com and visiondirect.com, has continually posted strong and growing sales numbers, but it has yet to report an annual profit. Executives
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration vows to remove about 500 unapproved cold and allergy medications from the market as part of an ongoing crackdown on ineffective prescription drugs. Although the agency requires companies to submit all new prescription drugs for scientific review before they are launched, thousands of drugs predate the FDA’s drug
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — To help Americans determine their risk for chronic diseases and get them on a path to better health, CVS/pharmacy has rolled out the 2011 “To Your Health” program, offering free preventive health screenings at more than 800 events nationwide. The program launched in Miami and Texas this month and continues in Los
The last day of February was the last day of Tom Ryan’s incredible run as chief executive officer at CVS Caremark Corp. In a tenure that spanned 17 years, beginning in January 1994 — when, at age 42, he became only the third CEO in the history of a retailer that began business as a
NAPLES, Fla. — Medication adherence and pharmacy reimbursement are two issues that go hand in hand, Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, told attendees in an address at the NACDS Regional Chain Conference here earlier this month. Pharmacies can cut health care costs and improve health
