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ARLINGTON, Va. — At the HDMA Business and Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., the association announced the appointment of three new directors: Scott Franklin, president, TopRx; Lenny Rodriguez, CEO, Attain Med; and Todd Szewc, CFO and VP administration, KeySource Medical. 

WASHINGTON — Another bill to limit dispensing of biosimilars lost Monday, this time in Illinois.

The state's legislature voted not to advance S.B. 1934, supported by such biotech companies as Amgen and Genentech, which would slow patients' access to knock-off versions of biotech drugs by restricting pharmacists' ability to dispense them. Illinois is the 13th state to defeat such a bill; a similar bill died in Texas' state legislature last week.

ATLANTA — Integration of social and mobile media, as well as shipping options and flexible returns, can drive brand loyalty as consumers seek out more choices and convenience when shopping online, according to a new study.

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Popcorn, Indiana and NBCUniversal's "The Biggest Loser" are teaming up for a nationwide health initiative called "Fit Across America 2013," the companies announced last week.

Burgeoning target demographics, such as Hispanics, Asians and baby boomers, along with an increased utility of smartphone technology as a shopping tool, will help to redefine retail altogether, suggested Thom Blischok, chief retail strategist and senior executive adviser for Booz & Co. during the keynote address and closing session for FMI’s part in the Health & Wellness @Retail 2013 conference on Saturday.

GMDC and FMI are co-hosting the Health & Wellness @Retail 2013 conference in San Antonio from May 31 to June 3. Below are some of our editors' picks of the hot products at the show.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — A new, higher-dose formulation of a drug used to treat pancreatic disorders is now available, the drug's manufacturer said.

AbbVie announced the launch of the new formulation of Creon (pancrelipase) delayed-release capsules. The drug is used to treat exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, removal of the pancreas and other conditions. The new strength is the highest-dose pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy available in the United States, AbbVie said.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Armada Health Care has appointed Mike Baldzicki as its EVP industry relations and advocacy, the specialty pharmacy group purchasing and channel management company said Friday.

Baldzicki will help the company with business development and find speaking and presentation opportunities at industry events.

LISLE, Ill. — The Pharmacy Quality Alliance has given one of its top awards to pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran Corp., the PBM said Friday.

Catamaran announced that it received a 2013 PQA Quality Award recognizing its five-star rating on all PQA measures in the Part D Star Ratings program. The PQA's stated goal is to improve patient health by championing clear performance measures for medication management, and the recognition program for prescription drug plans recognizes Medicare plans that have demonstrated outstanding performance in medication-related quality.

SAN ANTONIO — During Thursday’s education breakout sessions, Jeremy Doak, director of reward and wellness solutions for Edenred North America, shared with attendees the building blocks to create a strategy for delivering effective programs that impact consumer health-and-wellness outcomes during his presentation titled, “How to encourage consumer participation in health and wellness programs.”

SAN ANTONIO — “Why do smart leaders fail? They go off track with lack of strategic decisiveness, failure to create systems driving execution, struggle with financial management or talent retention. The top leaders create a virtual board of advisers to help them stay in reality.” That was one of the key messages conveyed by Elevation Forum founder Dan Mack to more than 30 senior leaders during the Health & Wellness @Retail 2013 in San Antonio.

 MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's Inc. reported positive financial results for the first quarter on Thursday and is looking to implement initiatives to reconfigure its pharmacy department and expand its specialty drug program as key drivers in its "aggressive" 2013 plan.