Content about Exclusive News Alert

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that CVS Caremark has appointed a new president of CVS/pharmacy, Mark Cosby, is yet one more page in the new chapter for the Woonsocket, R.I.-based powerhouse.

(THE NEWS: CVS Caremark names new president of CVS/pharmacy. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Drug store real estate executives should take note: Today, 1-in-3 Americans are over their ideal weight; in 20 years, that number will be 1-in-every-2. So the time to stake what-will-become-prime time real-estate opposite every Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King, or just about any burger joint that asks "would you like our sure-to-leave-you-bloated fries with that?," is now. Obesity equals opportunity.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Southeastern discount banner Fred's on Thursday morning reported that the consumer continues to be challenged by economic pressures. "In key markets we continue to see swings in sales [tied to] the payroll cycle," Bruce Efird, Fred's president and CEO, told analysts during a conference call this morning. Efird also reported an increase in government assistance utilization.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association last week delivered a letter to the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules opposing an Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services proposal to sharply decrease Medicaid reimbursements and “slow-walk” reimbursement payments.

The action could force more than 700 independent community pharmacies to shutter their doors, the NCPA stated.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Nice! may tout no-frills packaging, but make no mistake, Walgreens' latest private-label introduction is anything but. It's another example of Joe Magnacca's influence as president of daily living solutions; and it's another way by which Walgreens will better connect to its customers. Indeed, the packaging is more similar to the DR Delish brand than Walgreens' typical store-brand fare. But perhaps most important, Nice! represents a strong push into a key drug-store differentiator going forward — food offerings.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo is planning to launch more than 45 new products in fiscal 2012 that will translate into approximately $190 million added to annual Perrigo sales, Perrigo chairman, president and CEO Joe Papa told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter conference call Tuesday.

And while none of these new over-the-counter private-label products will help reduce cholesterol levels, Papa did set the stage for a future store-brand equivalent to Pfizer's blockbuster statin Lipitor.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There’s no doubt that the industry is still coming to terms with the unexpected passing of ECRM CEO and founder Charlie Bowlus — a longtime industry veteran whose passion and humility touched so many lives.

(THE NEWS: ECRM founder, CEO Charlie Bowlus passes away. For the full story, click here)

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It's a strategic next step in retail pharmacy, a setting that has fast evolved as the intrinsic destination for all health-related matters: health advice, self-care solutions, medication therapy management, compliance programs, acute-care services and now, if the reports turn out to be accurate, branded healthcare insurance. And by the time this offering would be available in 2014, the need for affordable healthcare insurance may go well beyond the 48.6 million uninsured that exist today.

RAVENSWOOD, W.V. — Fruth Pharmacy last week celebrated its 20th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament here, raising more than $50,000 toward the more than 15 scholarships awarded by Fruth each year.

All told, 154 industry executives participated in the Fruth golf tournament, played on the greens of Greenhills Country Club.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Traditional retailers today are marshalling their online resources to complement their brick-and-mortar stores, and retail pharmacies have an opportunity to use websites, social networking, smartphone applications and various combinations thereof to own multichannel customers.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — In his July 20 letter to benefit consultants, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness Kermit Crawford made a direct appeal to plan sponsors to either “select a PBM that includes Walgreens” or consider “direct arrangements with plans currently using Express Scripts, to the extent permitted by their contracts.” The letter also included an attached “template agreement that can be used to implement such direct arrangements where permitted,” for consideration.