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January 24, 2013
Rexall launches new exclusive Be.better line

Canadian pharmacy retailer Rexall has unveiled its new flagship private brand, Be.better, a line of more than 100 products available exclusively at the more than 300 corporate Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian pharmacy retailer Rexall has unveiled its new flagship private brand, Be.better, a line of more than 100 products available exclusively at the more than 300 corporate Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

January 24, 2013
Rite Aid raises more than $590k for United Way

Rite Aid has raised nearly $600,000 for a United Way chapter in Pennsylvania, the retail pharmacy chain said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has raised nearly $600,000 for a United Way chapter in Pennsylvania, the retail pharmacy chain said.

The company announced that employees in its corporate offices around the greater Harrisburg, Pa., area had raised $590,159 during its fundraising campaign for United Way of the Capital Region, for a total of nearly $5.8 million since 2002. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital, is near the company's headquarters in Camp Hill, Pa.

January 24, 2013
SymphonyIRI: Due to economy, 1-in-5 consumers choose a product tied to loyalty card discount

One-in-5 consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its fourth quarter 2012 MarketPulse survey.

CHICAGO — One-in-5 consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its fourth quarter 2012 MarketPulse survey. And almost one-third are forsaking their preferred brands due to a sale price. The survey found that shopper sentiment dropped to its lowest point since Q3 2011.

January 23, 2013
CADCA, CHPA honors Bucks County, Pa., with Dose of Prevention award

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Tuesday joined forces to honor the Bucks County, Pa.-based Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities with this year’s Dose of Prevention award.

WASHINGTON — The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Tuesday joined forces to honor the Bucks County, Pa.-based Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities with this year’s Dose of Prevention award. This award recognizes community-based organizations that have implemented successful initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse and OTC cough medicine abuse.

January 23, 2013
ConAgra introduces new version of Pam cooking spray

A new version of ConAgra Foods' Pam cooking spray is designed to be calorie-free and leave less residue, the company said.

OMAHA, Neb. — A new version of ConAgra Foods' Pam cooking spray is designed to be calorie-free and leave less residue, the company said.

The food company said that the new Pam leaves up to 99% less residue and is available in three varieties: original, baking and butter.

January 23, 2013
Duane Reade, Citymeals-on-Wheels look to raise funds to feed NYC's homebound elderly

For two weeks this winter, customers at Duane Reade are being asked to donate their spare change to help feed New York City’s homebound elderly as part of a relationship with Citymeals-on-Wheels, the retailer has announced.

NEW YORK — For two weeks this winter, customers at Duane Reade are being asked to donate their spare change to help feed New York City’s homebound elderly as part of a relationship with Citymeals-on-Wheels, the retailer has announced.

January 23, 2013
FDA approves Novartis drug for rare blood disorder

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for removing excess iron from the blood in patients with a rare genetic disorder, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for removing excess iron from the blood in patients with a rare genetic disorder, the agency said.

The FDA announced the approval of Novartis' Exjade (deferasirox) for patients ages 10 years and older with chronic iron overload resulting from nontransfution-dependent thalassemia, or NTDT. A companion diagnostic, FerriScan, made by Australia-based Resonance Health, also was approved.

January 23, 2013
Hero Nutritionals launches two sugar-free gummy vites for kids

Hero Nutritionals on Wednesday introduced two sugar-free vitamins to its Yummi Bears line that are naturally sweetened with lo han fruit and inulin fiber.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Hero Nutritionals on Wednesday introduced two sugar-free vitamins to its Yummi Bears line that are naturally sweetened with lo han fruit and inulin fiber.

“Overall the gummy vitamin category is up by 19% year over year, with the new sugar-free trend emerging," stated Claire Polson, national sales and marketing manager for Hero Nutritionals. “Additionally, the supplement alternative sweetener category grew by 10%, with the children’s multivitamin category driving it at 23% growth as compared to 2011.”

January 23, 2013
Hy-Vee starts construction on new store

Hy-Vee has started building a new store in Iowa, the supermarket chain said.

ANKENY, Iowa — Hy-Vee has started building a new store in Iowa, the supermarket chain said.

Hy-Vee announced that the 92,000-sq.-ft. store would be the second in the planned community of Ankeny, Iowa. The company plans to open the store in late 2013.

The new store will include a Starbucks coffee outlet, pharmacy with drive-through service, gelato bar, Chinese buffet, sushi bar and other amenities, as well as an on-site convenience store and gas station.

January 23, 2013
Industry challenges egregious disease-state related claims made by Internet purveyor of supplements

The National Advertising Division on Tuesday recommended that Nature’s Answer discontinue a wide range of Internet advertising claims for “Bio-Strath,” including claims that the supplement benefits children with ADD/ADHD, pregnant women, people recovering from cancer treatments, people with dementia and people with diabetes.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division on Tuesday recommended that Nature’s Answer discontinue a wide range of Internet advertising claims for “Bio-Strath,” including claims that the supplement benefits children with ADD/ADHD, pregnant women, people recovering from cancer treatments, people with dementia and people with diabetes.

Nature's Answer agreed to comply. 

January 23, 2013
J&J chief: McNeil will work to reclaim marketshare this year

Johnson & Johnson expects to return about 75% of its OTC brands to the marketplace over the course of 2013, Alex Gorsky, J&J chairman and CEO told analysts.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson expects to return about 75% of its OTC brands to the marketplace over the course of 2013, Alex Gorsky, J&J chairman and CEO told analysts Tuesday. "I’m very pleased with the progress that we’re making in that," he said. "We mentioned to you that the consent decree that we had designed in conjunction with the FDA was approved and reviewed in October, with very few comments. And given the breadth and scale of that agreement, we felt very good about that. We’ve had teams working hard since then.

January 23, 2013
Kraft announces Mio Fit liquid water enhancer, Super Bowl commercial

Kraft Foods is adding to their line of flavored water enhancers with two flavors of Mio Fit, a portable liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and electrolytes, and has planned the brands first-ever Super Bowl spot to run during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVLII on Feb. 3.

NEW YORK — Kraft Foods is adding to their line of flavored water enhancers with two flavors of Mio Fit, a portable liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and electrolytes, and has planned the brands first-ever Super Bowl spot to run during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVLII on Feb. 3.

January 23, 2013
New ad promotes independents' agenda in Washington

A lobbying organization for independent pharmacies has launched an ad campaign in The Hill, the Washington-based daily newspaper covering Congress.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A lobbying organization for independent pharmacies has launched an ad campaign in The Hill, the Washington-based daily newspaper covering Congress.

The National Community Pharmacists Association ad lays out the group's legislative agenda for the 113th Congress and the Obama administration.

January 23, 2013
Nielsen: Retail opportunities for 2013 in big data, omnichannel and fresh

Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon.

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

January 23, 2013
Novartis, Cytos terminate licensing agreement for smoking-cessation drug

Cytos Biotechnology will regain rights to an experimental vaccine against nicotine addiction that it had licensed to Novartis, Cytos said Wednesday.

SCHLIEREN, Switzerland — Cytos Biotechnology will regain rights to an experimental vaccine against nicotine addiction that it had licensed to Novartis, Cytos said Wednesday.

The company said that Novartis would discontinue the project, known as NIC002. Cytos granted Novartis a license for NIC002 in 2007, but phase-2 trial results in October 2009 indicated that the vaccine spurred the development of nicotine-specific antibodies in patients, but did not increase smoking cessation.

January 23, 2013
Parents not very concerned about prescription narcotic misuse, poll finds

A new study indicated that some parents may not be sufficiently concerned about misuse of narcotic painkillers by children and teenagers.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A new study indicated that some parents may not be sufficiently concerned about misuse of narcotic painkillers by children and teenagers.

January 23, 2013
Pharmacy retailers, one PBM dominated prescription drug revenues last year, study finds

Five pharmacies dominated prescription drug dispensing revenues in the United States last year, according to a new study.

PHILADELPHIA — Five pharmacies dominated prescription drug dispensing revenues in the United States last year, according to a new study.

The proprietary study, by the Drug Channels Institute, found that pharmacy retailers CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Walmart and pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts accounted for 63% of all prescription drug revenues in the $276.5 billion U.S. pharmacy industry in 2012.

January 23, 2013
SoloHealth joins former president's health initiative

Health kiosk maker SoloHealth has joined a health program led by former president Bill Clinton, the company said Wednesday.

ATLANTA — Health kiosk maker SoloHealth has joined a health program led by former president Bill Clinton, the company said Wednesday.

January 22, 2013
Alterna Haircare announces actress Katie Holmes as global spokesperson, co-owner

Alterna Haircare announced its official partnership with actress and entrepreneur Katie Holmes as co-owner and first-ever celebrity spokesperson.

NEW YORK — Alterna Haircare, whose products are sold at Sephora and Ulta, Sephora.com, Ulta.com, Beauty.com, QVC and salons, announced on Tuesday its official partnership with actress and entrepreneur Katie Holmes as co-owner and first-ever celebrity spokesperson.

January 22, 2013
Club retailers to see higher growth over next three years, Deloitte study finds

Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

The study, by Deloitte, found that consumer products executives expect growth through warehouse club retailers to outpace those of other retail channels, including mass merchandise, supermarkets and online retail.

January 22, 2013
CVS Caremark sponsors hiring fair at Rhode Island National Guard Armory

CVS Caremark, in partnership with the Rhode Island National Guard and Reserve, sponsored a "Hiring Our Heroes" hiring fair at the National Guard Armory in Warwick, R.I. Tuesday morning.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark, in partnership with the Rhode Island National Guard and Reserve, sponsored a "Hiring Our Heroes" hiring fair at the National Guard Armory in Warwick, R.I. Tuesday morning.

The job fair helped veterans, active military members and military spouses find employment opportunities at CVS Caremark.

January 22, 2013
FDA addresses Tamiflu shortages

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the distribution of 2 million additional doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) 75 mg that contain an older version of the package insert.

ATLANTA — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the distribution of 2 million additional doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) 75 mg that contain an older version of the package insert.

January 22, 2013
FDA approves Lupin contraceptive

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic contraceptive made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said Tuesday.

BALTIMORE — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic contraceptive made by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Lupin announced the approval of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets in the 0.1 mg/0.02 mg strength, a generic version of Watson Labs' Lutera.

Lutera had sales of about $103.6 million during the 12-month period that ended in September 2012, according to IMS Health.

January 22, 2013
Gourmet coffee, tea site launches

A new website features gourmet tea and coffee products.

HOUSTON — A new website features gourmet tea and coffee products.

GourmetCafeSpot.com, owned by Texas-based Internet company Pagee Distributing, features such coffee and tea products as tea pots, water kettles, coffee grinders and roasters, coffee machines, espresso machines, tea and coffee blends.

January 22, 2013
H.D. Smith creates H.D. Smith Specialty Solutions, names leadership team to drive the new business

H. D. Smith announced the establishment of H. D. Smith Specialty Solutions, an organization structured to provide focus and alignment around specialty and traditional brand products, solutions and services.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Tuesday announced the establishment of H. D. Smith Specialty Solutions, an organization structured to provide focus and alignment around specialty and traditional brand products, solutions and services. The wholesaler also announced the realignment of select executive leadership positions to best capitalize on the growing needs resulting from recent geographic and service expansions. These expansions include the acquisition of Valley Wholesale Drug in October 2012 and a planned majority ownership investment in Triplefin announced in January 2013.