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BOSTON — Drug Store News editor-in-chief Rob Eder interviewed Lansinoh Labs VP sales Michelle McLaughlin here at NACDS Marketplace about the company’s leading position in the natural feeding category, and an exciting new line of products from Europe, which Lansinoh acquired this year and currently is launching to U.S. retailers.

BOSTON — Fresh is one of the biggest buzzwords in drug store retailing today. But getting into the business can be particularly challenging for small-box retailers like drug stores.

Enter McLane, an industry-leading supply chain services company that has taken away the guesswork for drug store retailers, complete with customized coolers and a full array of fresh product offerings, including sandwiches, salads, fruit juices, fresh-cut fruit and yogurt.

BOSTON — Nelson marks the second branded player that should be making a significant commitment against iron supplementation in the coming year — the other being Meda Pharmaceuticals.

Nelson, however, is approaching the market with a "less is more" mantra. In other words, it's a lower dose iron solution with a higher aborption rate.

And because of the lower iron dose, it'll be a lot less likely to cause constipation and will be gentler on the stomach too.

BOSTON — Nipro Diagnostics is building around its co-branded blood-glucose meter with a line of glucose-control products, including its TruePlus glucose shot.

The entire line also includes a glucose tablet product, a glucose gel and a diabetes-friendly multivitamin. But it's the diabetes-friendly energy shot that should garner the most interest, because that will be the acceptable delivery format for the next generation of diabetics.

BOSTON — Yabba-Dabba-Doo! Post's new Pebbles Treats snack bars come in Fruity and Cocoa flavors, and are packed in boxes of eight single-serve bars.

The new Pebbles snack bars tap into the $185-million rice treat category, according to SymphonyIRI Group data through the end of 2010 in food, drug and mass including Walmart, and also tie into the new gluten-free movement.

The new snack bars performed well in test markets, exceeding volume forecasts for fiscal 2011 by more than 20%, according to Post.

HOBOKEN, N.J. — A recent study published in Panminerva Medica found that a pycnogenol and coenzyme-Q10 combination (PycnoQ10) taken by stable heart failure patients as an adjunct to medical treatment naturally strengthens the heart, increasing the blood volume ejected with each beat.

As a result, the oxygen-rich blood supply to the organs improves, and patients become more physically energetic.

Pycnogenol is an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree and has been clinically proven to improve endothelial function and blood flow.

NEW YORK — The charitable arm of Bristol-Myers Squibb has awarded five grants totaling $1.5 million to organizations that encourage African-American women with Type 2 diabetes to better manage their disease.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Water filter brand Brita has tapped its FilterForGood team to encourage consumers to reduce their bottled water waste through a series of three-day music festivals headlined by Dave Matthews Band.

NEW YORK — Despite the expansion of the diabetes drug market over the past 20 years, the rate of diabetic kidney disease has become more prevalent in the United States.

DUBLIN — A Food and Drug Administration expert panel has recommended approval of a drug made by Shire for a rare immune system disorder, the drug maker said.

Shire said the FDA’s Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee recommended approval of Firazyr (icatibant) for treating acute hereditary angioedema attacks in adults. The committee also voted 11-1 to recommend approval of self-administration of the drug by patients.

HAE is a genetic and potentially fatal immune system disorder that causes swelling of the face and airways and result in airway blockage.

NEW YORK — It seems that intensive-dose statin therapy is linked with a higher risk of onset diabetes, compared with moderate-dose therapy, according to an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The analysis, which pooled data from previously published clinical trials, found that among 32,752 nondiabetic participants:

• 2,749 participants (8.4%) developed diabetes. Among them, 1,449 were assigned intensive-dose therapy, while 1,300 assigned moderate-dose therapy;

ATLANTA — Former Unilever executive Michael Polk has been appointed president and CEO of Newell Rubbermaid, effective July 18. He succeeds Mark Ketchum, who is retiring but will remain a director until May 2012.

Ketchum announced in January his intention to retire after being recruited from the board five years ago to lead Newell Rubbermaid through its transformation into a marketing-driven company.