Content about Federal Trade Commission

May 7, 2012

NCPA lobbies for bills that would help mitigate market dominance of new super-PBM ESI

The battle for public opinion and legislative sway was in full swing Monday as executives from the National Community Pharmacists Association lobbied congressional leaders regarding several pieces of "pro-patient, pro-pharmacist legislation." To counter that effort, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association issued some marketing firepower of its own.

WASHINGTON — The battle for public opinion and legislative sway was in full swing Monday as executives from the National Community Pharmacists Association lobbied congressional leaders regarding several pieces of "pro-patient, pro-pharmacist legislation." To counter that effort, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association issued some marketing firepower of its own.

April 27, 2012

NRF: FTC should move cautiously on mobile payments

The National Retail Federation on Thursday urged the Federal Trade Commission to move cautiously in establishing regulations for mobile payments and said any rules that are adopted should parallel those for the underlying form of payment and not be specific to the technology.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation on Thursday urged the Federal Trade Commission to move cautiously in establishing regulations for mobile payments and said any rules that are adopted should parallel those for the underlying form of payment and not be specific to the technology.

April 25, 2012

Report: Preliminary injunction to block ESI-Medco merger denied

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday denied a preliminary injunction filed by pharmacy trade groups in an effort to block the looming merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco.

PITTSBURGH — The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday denied a preliminary injunction filed by pharmacy trade groups in an effort to block the merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco.

April 20, 2012

A year full of hot issues

As the industry geared up for this year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting, Drug Store News talked with NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson about the hottest issues facing pharmacy and his thoughts on the 2012 presidential election.

As the industry geared up for this year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Annual Meeting, Drug Store News talked with NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson about the hottest issues facing pharmacy and his thoughts on the 2012 presidential election.

Drug Store News: What do you think will be the hot-button issues that will be top of mind at this year’s Annual Meeting?

April 11, 2012

Report: Federal judge hears arguments in ESI-Medco merger case

A federal judge in Pittsburgh will rule "later" on whether to block or allow a merger between pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts, and is considering a request by two trade groups seeking to keep Medco's operations and assets separate from ESI while the lawsuit is pending, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A federal judge in Pittsburgh will rule "later" on whether to block or allow a merger between pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts, and is considering a request by two trade groups seeking to keep Medco's operations and assets separate from ESI while the lawsuit is pending, according to published reports.

April 10, 2012

Lawsuit challenging ESI-Medco merger begins

Pharmacies hoping to block the merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions got their day in court Tuesday, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Pharmacies hoping to block the merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions got their day in court Tuesday, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that a hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania began in Pittsburgh, with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and several independent pharmacies hoping to stop the $29.1 billion merger, which the Federal Trade Commission approved last week.

April 9, 2012

NAD refers company making unsubstantiated disease-state claims to FTC

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus on Monday referred advertising for Serranol dietary supplement, marketed by Good Health Naturally, to the Federal Trade Commission for further review, after the company declined to fully participate in a National Advertising Division review of its advertising claims.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus on Monday referred advertising for Serranol dietary supplement, marketed by Good Health Naturally, to the Federal Trade Commission for further review after the company declined to fully participate in a National Advertising Division review of its advertising claims.

April 6, 2012

Pharmacy industry sizzles following FTC approval of Express Scripts-Medco merger

You can't uncrack an egg. That's the preliminary reply Express Scripts gave to the district court hearing the case filed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacist Association to block the merger between Express Scripts and Medco.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — You can't uncrack an egg. That's the preliminary reply Express Scripts gave to the district court hearing the case filed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacist Association to block the merger between Express Scripts and Medco. The pharmacy industry's concern, however, revolves around what kind of beast will hatch from this ESI-Medco merger if that cracked egg isn't unscrambled.

April 5, 2012

Teva entitled to exclusivity on Provigil, FDA decides

Teva is the first company to file for a generic version of a drug to treat sleep disorders, the Food and Drug Administration has determined.

JERUSALEM — Teva is the first company to file for a generic version of a drug used to treat sleep disorders, the Food and Drug Administration has determined, though Mylan is contesting the FDA decision.

April 2, 2012

Feds green-light ESI-Medco deal. Now what?

“Straight over the cliff.” That may be the destination for many independent pharmacies now that the Federal Trade Commission has unconditionally approved the controversial merger of the nation’s second- and third-largest pharmacy benefit managers, a top pharmacy leader warned.

“Straight over the cliff.”

That may be the destination for many independent pharmacies now that the Federal Trade Commission unconditionally has approved the controversial merger of the nation’s second- and third-largest pharmacy benefit managers, a top pharmacy leader warned.

April 2, 2012

NACDS, NCPA renew merger opposition with new court filing seeking immediate relief

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association announced their intent to file an additional motion requesting that the judge direct Express Scripts and Medco to keep separate their assets pending review of the lawsuit and/or schedule an expedited review of the merits of a case the two associations filed in district court last week.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday afternoon announced their intent to file an additional motion requesting that the judge direct Express Scripts and Medco to keep separate their assets pending review of the lawsuit and/or schedule an expedited review of the merits of a case the two associations filed in district court last week.

April 2, 2012

Super PBM merger approved; NACDS, NCPA file emergency motion to block merger

The controversial merger between Express Scripts and Medco was completed Monday morning, according to a press release issued by both Express Scripts and the Federal Trade Commission.

WASHINGTON — The controversial merger between Express Scripts and Medco was completed Monday morning, according to a press release issued by both Express Scripts and the Federal Trade Commission.

March 30, 2012

Express Scripts struck a match to the merger debate after suggesting approval imminent

When Express Scripts filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission that its merger with Medco could close as early as the week of April 2, that seemed to set off a firestorm of activity.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — When Express Scripts filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission that its merger with Medco could close as early as the week of April 2, that seemed to set off a firestorm of activity. Reports were published suggesting the Federal Trade Commission decision was imminent, and what's more that the agency would decide in favor of the merger. Speculative day traders Wednesday morning pushed the opening stock prices across both Express Scripts and Medco higher by 3.9% and 5%, respectively.

March 29, 2012

FTC testifies on anticompetition potential of an independent pharmacy bloc

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet on Thursday morning heard testimony regarding H.R. 1946, "Preserving Our Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2011."

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet on Thursday morning heard testimony regarding H.R. 1946, "Preserving Our Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2011." Originally introduced by Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Louie Gahmert, R-Texas, the bill is intended to exempt independent pharmacists from antitrust regulation in an effort to bolster their negotiating powers with pharmacy benefit managers.

March 29, 2012

NACDS, NCPA, nine retail pharmacy companies sue to block ESI-Medco merger

With as much as two-thirds of retail pharmacy operators' business tied up in the potential Express Scripts-Medco merger, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and nine retail pharmacy companies on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging the merger.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — With as much as two-thirds of retail pharmacy operators' business tied up in the potential Express Scripts-Medco merger, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and nine retail pharmacy companies on Thursday filed a lawsuit challenging the merger.

March 28, 2012

Community pharmacy coalition calls on state attorneys general to block PBM merger

The Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! coalition — formed in opposition of the proposed Express Scripts-Medco merger — Wednesday afternoon hosted a press conference making a direct appeal to attorneys general to block the ESI-Medco merger in the courts should the Federal Trade Commission approve the merger.

WASHINGTON — The Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW! coalition — formed in opposition of the proposed Express Scripts-Medco merger — Wednesday afternoon hosted a press conference making a direct appeal to attorneys general to block the ESI-Medco merger in the courts should the Federal Trade Commission approve the merger.

March 28, 2012

Express Scripts SEC filing: PBM expects to close Medco merger next week

The Federal Trade Commission's ruling on the Express Scripts and Medco merger may be imminent, Express Scripts noted in a Form 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

ST. LOUIS — The Federal Trade Commission's ruling on the Express Scripts and Medco merger may be imminent, Express Scripts noted in a Form 8-K filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday.

March 27, 2012

Walgreens confident in Q2 results following Express Scripts exit Jan. 1

On the eve of a potential Federal Trade Commission approval of the Express Scripts-Medco merger, Walgreens' underlying fundamentals still are strong, Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson told analysts Tuesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — On the eve of a potential Federal Trade Commission approval of the Express Scripts-Medco merger, Walgreens' underlying fundamentals still are strong, Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson told analysts Tuesday morning. It's that underlying strength that has helped Walgreens in the wake of its exit from the Express Scripts pharmacy benefit network, a factor that impacted Walgreens' net earnings by 7 cents per diluted share for its second quarter ended Feb. 29.

March 23, 2012

NACDS RxImpact Day shows community pharmacy wins in communications battle

This is a critical time for the industry as the Federal Trade Commission is expected to decide the fate of the Express Scripts-Medco merger in the coming weeks. ESI-Medco, and the pharmacy benefit manager threat in general, were at the top of the list of what members of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores came to talk about at the organization's annual NACDS RxImpact Day, as chains asked lawmkers to support new legislation that would bring greater transparency to PBM bookkeeping and to tell the FTC to block ESI-Medco.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — This is a critical time for the industry as the Federal Trade Commission is expected to decide the fate of the Express Scripts-Medco merger in the coming weeks. ESI-Medco, and the pharmacy benefit manager threat in general, were at the top of the list of what members of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores came to talk about at the organization's annual NACDS RxImpact Day, as chains asked lawmkers to support new legislation that would bring greater transparency to PBM bookkeeping and to tell the FTC to block ESI-Medco.

March 13, 2012

NACDS: Capitol Hill meetings to focus on PBM tactics, ramifications

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is heading to Capitol Hill next week for its RxImpact Day event, during which it will press its case against the proposed ESI-Medco merger.

WASHINGTON — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is heading to Capitol Hill next week for its RxImpact Day event, during which it will press its case against the proposed ESI-Medco merger.

“No issues are higher on NACDS’ list of priorities than urging members of Congress to express to the Federal Trade Commission their concerns and opposition to the proposed Express Scripts and Medco merger, and advocating for legislation to regulate pharmacy benefit managers,” stated NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson.

February 21, 2012

Rep. Slaughter raises concerns about proposed ESI-Medco merger

Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has expressed concerns about the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., has expressed concerns about the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission.

The letter, dated Feb. 6, outlines how Slaughter represents a district that contains 34 independent pharmacies — which employ 364 full-time individuals — that fill more than two million prescriptions every year.

February 17, 2012

Let me tell you what PBMs do

Multibillion-dollar pharmacy benefit management companies are advertising aggressively to try to convince Congress and the Federal Trade Commission to approve a merger between Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions

February 13, 2012

Let me tell you what PBMs do

February 10, 2012

NACDS gets ready to fight back against PBMs

With the clock ticking on the Express Scripts-Medco deal and amped up messaging coming out of the PBM lobby, NACDS vows to roll up its sleeves and make a fist.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — With the clock ticking on the Express Scripts-Medco deal and amped up messaging coming out of the PBM lobby, NACDS vows to roll up its sleeves and make a fist.

(THE NEWS: NACDS lays down gauntlet against PBM lobby at Regional Chain Conference. For the full story, click here)

February 10, 2012

Report: FTC to rule on Express Scripts, Medco merger within 30 days

Bloomberg on Friday reported that Express Scripts intends to inform the Federal Trade Commission that the company has delivered all the data requested regarding its purchase of Medco Health Solutions on Friday, which will trigger a 30-day period for a decision from the FTC.

NEW YORK — Bloomberg on Friday reported that Express Scripts intends to inform the Federal Trade Commission that the company has delivered all the data requested regarding its purchase of Medco Health Solutions on Friday, which will trigger a 30-day period for a decision from the FTC.

Express Scripts declined to comment for the story, Bloomberg added.