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CVS Caremark’s front-store business continues to experience solid performance despite a weak economy — success that can be credited to such factors as a skilled merchandising team, a focus on store brands and a clustering initiative that tailors stores’ merchandise mix based on how the stores are shopped in certain locations.


ALLEGAN, Mich. — An expanded offering of private-label pet care products will come soon to retailers' shelves, following the acquisition of Sergeant's Pet Care Products by Perrigo, the leading global provider of store-brand health and personal care items.

Perrigo said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sergeant's, a privately held Omaha-based company, for $285 million in an all cash deal that enables Perrigo to enter the $8 billion pet care market.

WAYNE, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals are seeking approval for a new drug to treat tumors of the gut, the companies said.

Bayer and Onyx announced the submission to the Food and Drug Administration of an application seeking approval for regorafenib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GIST. Bayer developed the drug and formed a partnership with Onyx in 2011, whereby Onyx will receive a royalty on future global net sales of the drug in cancer-related indications. Both companies will promote the drug in the United States.

LOS ANGELES — The largest nonprofit organization focused on HIV and AIDS has acquired a group of specialty pharmacies.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The signs that the convenient care industry has hit a significant tipping point in 2012 just keep on coming.

(THE NEWS: Study: Older patients, preventive services on rise at retail health clinics. For the full story, click here)

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

FRANKLIN, Ky. — Blu Pharmaceuticals has named Joe Dombrowski to the newly created position of VP corporate development, the company said.

Blu, based in Franklin, Ky., said Dombrowski will be responsible for strategic planning and business development, including mergers and acquisitions. Blu was founded in 2006.

Dombrowski previously worked as senior director for strategic planning and business development for Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals.

NEW YORK — Taking a complete approach to skin health and leveraging conjugated linoleic acid — or CLA, a natural compound derived from the safflower plant — is the new skin care line called Own.

Launched in spring 2012, Own is available in Duane Reade stores and recently entered the Northern California market at Whole Foods.

LOS ANGELES — Health Net on Tuesday launched a national public service campaign to help increase awareness of prenatal and infant health.

Created in collaboration with the National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition, the campaign announcements encourage mothers and fathers to sign up for a free mobile health service called Text4baby.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — After announcing the retirement of its leader last December, Hy-Vee has named a new chairman and CEO.

The retailer said its president and COO, Randy Edeker, will become chairman, president and CEO, effective June 1. Edeker, 30-year veteran of Hy-Vee, replaces Ric Jurgens, who has served as Hy-Vee CEO since 2003 and chairman since 2006. Back in December 2011, Jurgens announced his intention to retire and nominate Edeker as his successor.

WASHINGTON — A consumer group is urging the Food and Drug Administration to review a proprietary point-of-purchase nutrition rating system that it said is "inconsistent with FDA guidance statements and enforcement correspondence, federal nutrition programs and recommendations from the Institute of Medicine."