Content about In this Issue

October 11, 2011

The recent film “Contagion” depicts the world descending to chaos due to the spread of an extremely deadly virus. But in reality, one of the most serious epidemics doesn’t come from an infectious agent but from people’s life choices.


The recent film “Contagion” depicts the world descending to chaos due to the spread of an extremely deadly virus. But in reality, one of the most serious epidemics doesn’t come from an infectious agent but from people’s life choices.


October 11, 2011

More and more, the diversion of nonprescription pseudoephedrine is being halted at the pharmacy counter in real time thanks to tools like the National Precursor Log Exchange, funded entirely by the industry and now active in 17 states.

More and more, the diversion of nonprescription pseudoephedrine is being halted at the pharmacy counter in real time thanks to tools like the National Precursor Log Exchange, funded entirely by the industry and now active in 17 states.

October 11, 2011

The industry has lost a true “patriot of pharmacy practice” in longtime industry veteran Leonard “Len” DeMino, who passed away on Sept. 16. DeMino was 81.

NORTH BETHESDA, Md. — The industry has lost a true “patriot of pharmacy practice” in longtime industry veteran Leonard “Len” DeMino, who passed away on Sept. 16. DeMino was 81.

October 11, 2011

New York City’s Meatpacking District is now the home of Sephora’s 16th Manhattan location — a stunning beauty destination that opened in mid-September and incorporates innovative design, state-of-the-art services and exclusive brands.


NEW YORK — New York City’s Meatpacking District is now the home of Sephora’s 16th Manhattan location — a stunning beauty destination that opened in mid-September and incorporates innovative design, state-of-the-art services and exclusive brands.


October 11, 2011

Under fire. That is the best way to describe the current state of the proposed $29 billion mega-merger of two of the nation’s three largest pharmacy benefit managers, and the fierce resistance it is drawing from pharmacy and consumer groups.

Under fire. That is the best way to describe the current state of the proposed $29 billion mega-merger of two of the nation’s three largest pharmacy benefit managers, and the fierce resistance it is drawing from pharmacy and consumer groups. If the plan is approved, Express Scripts will emerge as a PBM giant with a network covering some 135 million members.

October 11, 2011

Along with major paradigm shifts in how people communicate, read and do business, the way they receive healthcare services is changing dramatically, and retail pharmacies are at the front line.


Along with major paradigm shifts in how people communicate, read and do business, the way they receive healthcare services is changing dramatically, and retail pharmacies are at the front line.


September 12, 2011

It is no surprise that hair coloring continues to see growth at food, drug and mass as beauty mavens increasingly turn to more cost-effective, at-home beauty regimens 
and manufacturers continue to turn up the notch on innovation, developing such products as no-drip foam formulas.


It is no surprise that hair coloring continues to see growth at food, drug and mass as beauty mavens increasingly turn to more cost-effective, at-home beauty regimens 
and manufacturers continue to turn up the notch on innovation, developing such products as no-drip foam formulas.


As anticipated, sales of hair coloring 
at food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart) 
were up 5.2% for the 12 weeks ended Aug. 7 to $254.3 million, according to SymphonyIRI Group.


September 12, 2011

It’s hard to disagree that generic drug companies have had a good run for the last several years. Branded drug companies developed a large number of drugs that proved highly effective at treating widespread medical conditions and became blockbusters, garnering billions of dollars in sales in the United States alone.

It’s hard to disagree that generic drug companies have had a good run for the last several years. Branded drug companies developed a large number of drugs that proved highly effective at treating widespread medical conditions and became blockbusters, garnering billions of dollars in sales in the United States alone. As patents on these blockbuster drugs have expired, they’ve provided generic manufacturers with enormous revenues, helping some to join the ranks of the world’s biggest drug companies.


September 12, 2011

Americans spend three to four hours a day in the kitchen, so housewares — particularly kitchenware — can be a key gift category for drug stores.

Americans spend three to four hours a day in the kitchen, so housewares — particularly kitchenware — can be a key gift category for drug stores. The channel had a 4.2% share of the housewares business, according to the International Housewares Association’s “2010 State of the Industry Report.” Much of the channel’s sales come from cookware, bakeware and kitchen tools.

September 12, 2011

While it has been a boon to elderly Americans, Medicare Part D includes a complicating factor that has proven to be a headache.


While it has been a boon to elderly Americans, Medicare Part D includes a complicating factor that has proven to be a headache.


Despite its seemingly charming name, the doughnut hole has proven to be a headache for many seniors. Also known as the Medicare Part D coverage gap, the doughnut hole is when drug costs reach a point when the patient becomes responsible for the entire cost, and Medicare doesn’t pay for them again until they reach the catastrophic-coverage threshold. The hole and threshold change from year to year.


September 12, 2011


As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 



As the clock winds down on the patent exclusivity of the industry’s biggest blockbuster drug in November, speculation continues to grow that Pfizer will look to flip the switch on an OTC version of Lipitor (atorvastatin) before generic competition whittles away at the $7 billion behemoth. 


September 12, 2011

The issue of patent settlements, their effect on drug prices and availability, and by extension their legality has been around for a long time and will likely remain an issue for years to come. But according to a report released in May by the Federal Trade Commission, the settlements have been on the rise, increasing from 16 in 2009 to 31 in 2010.


The issue of patent settlements, their effect on drug prices and availability, and by extension their legality has been around for a long time and will likely remain an issue for years to come. But according to a report released in May by the Federal Trade Commission, the settlements have been on the rise, increasing from 16 in 2009 to 31 in 2010.


September 12, 2011

At press time, Hurricane Irene was slowly barreling toward the East Coast and threatening the area with a deluge that prompted cities to shut down and had store shelves wiped clean.


At press time, Hurricane Irene was slowly barreling toward the East Coast and threatening the area with a deluge that prompted cities to shut down and had store shelves wiped clean.


September 12, 2011

Longtime industry veteran Mark de Bruin in July signed on with wholesaler H. D. Smith as corporate VP managed care. Drug Store News sat down with de Bruin recently to discuss the managed care climate for the independent pharmacy operator and how the business of pharmacy continues to evolve. 


Longtime industry veteran Mark de Bruin in July signed on with wholesaler H. D. Smith as corporate VP managed care. Drug Store News sat down with de Bruin recently to discuss the managed care climate for the independent pharmacy operator and how the business of pharmacy continues to evolve. 


DSN: What are the challenges facing managed care networks today? 


September 12, 2011

Somewhere along the road back from Boston, DSN publisher Wayne Bennett and I looked at each other and realized that the previous 24 hours or so had been some of the most productive time we had enjoyed at a trade show in quite a while.


Somewhere along the road back from Boston, DSN publisher Wayne Bennett and I looked at each other and realized that the previous 24 hours or so had been some of the most productive time we had enjoyed at a trade show in quite a while. To be honest, that’s not exactly what we had expected when we headed to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ Pharmacy and Technology Conference a day earlier. Hurricane Irene — which had already dampened our travel plans — also had dampened our expectations.


September 12, 2011

The oral care segment is a mature market — no doubt about it — but when it comes to tooth-whitening products, consumers have demonstrated that they will continue to snap up products that promise a brighter, whiter smile.

The oral care segment is a mature market — no doubt about it — but when it comes to tooth-whitening products, consumers have demonstrated that they will continue to snap up products that promise a brighter, whiter smile.

August 24, 2011


Pharmacist Society has grown to more than 35,000 members and combines networking, job searching, continuing education and other services in a regulated user environment.


Pharmacist Society — which Drug Store News introduced at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ 2010 Pharmacy and Technology Conference in San Diego and launched in November 2010 under a partnership with professional networking website developer Skipta — has grown to more than 35,000 members and combines networking, job searching, continuing education and other services in a regulated user environment.

August 24, 2011

The new Max-Wellness at the Lake Health’s West Medical Center is a smaller-format store specifically designed for hospitals. The approximately 600-sq.-ft. location adjacent to the hospital gift shop features wellness products specifically tailored to the needs of patients.

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — The new Max-Wellness at the Lake Health’s West Medical Center is a smaller-format store specifically designed for hospitals. The approximately 600-sq.-ft. location adjacent to the hospital gift shop features wellness products specifically tailored to the needs of patients. In fact, Max-Wellness collaborates with the healthcare professionals at the hospital around that product selection.


August 24, 2011


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. In response, federal drug safety overseers and such drug manufacturers as Pfizer are working to shore up the integrity of drug supplies and stop production of fake and adulterated pharmaceuticals at their source.


August 24, 2011

Hundreds of retail healthcare professionals gathered in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month for the fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress.

Hundreds of retail healthcare professionals gathered in Orlando, Fla., earlier this month for the fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress.

August 24, 2011


Dispensing narcotics and other highly abused prescription drugs, pharmacies have always been potential targets for robbery and burglary. But a series of violent crimes over the past year and a half have thrown a spotlight on the dangers faced by pharmacy workers and customers, and have galvanized public opinion for tougher laws.



Dispensing narcotics and other highly abused prescription drugs, pharmacies have always been potential targets for robbery and burglary. But a series of violent crimes over the past year and a half — including the killing of a pharmacist, a teenage clerk and two customers in Medford, N.Y., in June, as well as the murders of a pharmacist in Trenton, N.J., and a store clerk in Sacramento, Calif. — have thrown a spotlight on the dangers faced by pharmacy workers and customers, and have galvanized public opinion for tougher laws.


August 24, 2011

If the legacy of a man is measured in the number of people he positively influenced, then surely Charlie Bowlus was a titan of our industry.


SARASOTA, Fla. — If the legacy of a man is measured in the number of people he positively influenced, then surely Charlie Bowlus was a titan of our industry. Not only did he have a profound impact on the personal lives of the people among whom he worked — ECRM employees, retailers and suppliers — he made an indelible mark on the way this industry does business.


August 19, 2011

“[Charlie] never wanted the spotlight,” long-time friend and colleague Al Kraus noted in an online post, recalling a conversation with Charlie Bowlus over a drink one night in 1994, at the end of the very first ECRM show.

“[Charlie] never wanted the spotlight,” long-time friend and colleague Al Kraus noted in an online post, recalling a conversation with Charlie Bowlus over a drink one night in 1994, at the end of the very first ECRM show. “His first show had maybe 80 people. ... I asked him if he made any money on the show. He said, ‘I don’t know, but a lot of people did business, and it was a hell of a party.’”

July 25, 2011


With its latest string of initiatives designed to bring it out of a slump that lasted more than a decade, Rite Aid is aiming for “wellness” to do for it what the lower-case “i” did for Apple.



With its latest string of initiatives designed to bring it out of a slump that lasted more than a decade, Rite Aid is aiming for “wellness” to do for it what the lower-case “i” did for Apple.


First, there was the wellness+ loyalty card program. Then, there was the wellness store format, with its team of Wellness Ambassadors. “This new format is all about empowering our customers in their pursuit of wellness,” president and CEO John Standley said in the company’s first quarter 2012 earnings call on June 23.


July 25, 2011

Consumers eating more meals at home and innovation from manufacturers have led to a spike in sales of frozen convenience foods. A number of frozen segments showed double-digit increases in the 52-week period ended May 15.


Consumers eating more meals at home and innovation from manufacturers have led to a spike in sales of frozen convenience foods. A number of frozen segments showed double-digit increases in the 52-week period ended May 15. Dollar sales of frozen breakfast foods were up nearly 9% across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI 
Group data.