Content about Insights and Perspectives

September 6, 2012
Study shows rapid growth in cost of physician-dispensed prescriptions versus pharmacies

While regulations meant to control the prices of drugs dispensed through physician offices for injured workers can keep costs down without limiting access, employers in many states may end up paying more than twice what they would have if the workers had gone to a pharmacy instead, according to a new study.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — While regulations meant to control the prices of drugs dispensed through physician offices for injured workers can keep costs down without limiting access, employers in many states may end up paying more than twice what they would have if the workers had gone to a pharmacy instead, according to a new study.

September 4, 2012
Mintel: Products with low/no/reduced sodium claims on decline

It seems that the number of products touting low/no/reduced sodium claims have declined over the past few years, despite the increased awareness about risks of over-consumption.

CHICAGO — It seems that the number of products touting low/no/reduced sodium claims have declined over the past few years, despite the increased awareness about risks of over-consumption.

September 4, 2012
Survey: BTS shopping shows surge in coupon use

A survey released by coupon site RetailMeNot found that coupon use for back-to-school shopping surged this year, particularly for retailers selling books, school supplies and apparel.

AUSTIN, Texas — A survey released by coupon site RetailMeNot found that coupon use for back-to-school shopping surged this year, particularly for retailers selling books, school supplies and apparel.

According to RetailMeNot, which measured coupon usage during the July 1 to Aug. 20 selling period, as compared with the prior three months, the average daily coupon clicks increased more than 130% for book retailers, more than 40% for merchants selling back-to-school supplies and more than 30% for stores selling apparel and shoes.

August 30, 2012
Capturing specialty market is essential for growth

Specialty pharmacy is one of the fastest-growing segments of pharmacy today, but only a minority of specialty drugs that end up in patients' hands are dispensed through retail pharmacy channels.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Specialty pharmacy is one of the fastest-growing segments of pharmacy today, but only a minority of specialty drugs that end up in patients' hands are dispensed through retail pharmacy channels.

But with the growing importance of specialty due to the aging population and the commoditization of the market for primary care drugs, more retailers want in on the action, so it wouldn't be in their interest to have PBMs conquer too big a share of the market.

August 30, 2012
Lilly recognized for health literacy efforts

Drug maker Eli Lilly has partnered with nationally recognized health literacy experts to implement new standards to ensure the company's patient communications and resources adhere to health literacy principles.

INDIANAPOLIS — Drug maker Eli Lilly has partnered with nationally recognized health literacy experts to implement new standards to ensure the company's patient communications and resources adhere to health literacy principles.

August 30, 2012
Nielsen: U.S. grocery shoppers go online to save money

Consumers focus on savings when they log in to their digital devices to shop for groceries, according to a new study from Nielsen.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Consumers focus on savings when they log in to their digital devices to shop for groceries, according to a new study from Nielsen. The top weekly U.S. activities related to grocery shopping on a connected device, ranging from a mobile phone to tablet, included reading online grocery circulars (62%), looking for coupons online (55%) and browsing a manufacturer’s website for a grocery category (55%).

August 30, 2012
Retailers in Pa. and Calif. no longer swimming against a sales tax undercurrent

As of Sept. 1, some 1.2 million Pennsylvanians will be able to go to bed at night secure in the knowledge that their jobs won't be drowned out by some online juggernaut. And by the middle of September, 3.1 million Californians will be able to breathe that same sigh of relief.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — As of Sept. 1, some 1.2 million Pennsylvanians will be able to go to bed at night secure in the knowledge that their jobs won't be drowned out by some online juggernaut. And by the middle of September, 3.1 million Californians will be able to breathe that same sigh of relief. That's how many retail employees there are across those two states.

August 30, 2012
Study: Aspirin regimen could benefit prostate cancer patients

Men who have been treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation, could benefit from taking aspirin regularly, according to a multicenter study published in Tuesday's issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

DALLAS — Men who have been treated for prostate cancer, either with surgery or radiation, could benefit from taking aspirin regularly, according to a multicenter study published in Tuesday's issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

August 30, 2012
Telehealth, kiosks are proving importance in future of U.S. health care

Big news for SoloHealth as the number of consumer interactions made at its health-and-wellness kiosks surpassed 2.5 million while the company works toward its goal of 2,500 retail kiosks by mid-2013. But it is perhaps even bigger news for the future of the overall U.S. healthcare system.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Big news for SoloHealth as the number of consumer interactions made at its health-and-wellness kiosks surpassed 2.5 million while the company works toward its goal of 2,500 retail kiosks by mid-2013. But it is perhaps even bigger news for the future of the overall U.S. healthcare system.

(THE NEWS: SoloHealth surpasses 2.5 million consumer interactions. For the full story, click here.)

August 29, 2012
CVS/pharmacy-funded research points to new pathways, treatment strategy for ALS

In the battle to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, scientists from Belgium have made a rare discovery: a new gene that influences survival time of ALS. The findings, reported in a recent issue of Nature Medicine, were funded in part by CVS/pharmacy and the ALS Therapy Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit.

NEEDHAM, Mass. — In the battle to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, scientists from Belgium have made a rare discovery: a new gene that influences survival time of ALS. The findings, reported in a recent issue of Nature Medicine, were funded in part by CVS/pharmacy and the ALS Therapy Alliance, a Boston-based nonprofit. The findings also confirm another recent study that identified the same pathway to finding a treatment for ALS.

August 29, 2012
Nielsen: Intent to buy food, beverages online continues to grow

Global consumers' intent to buy food and beverages online has jumped 44% in two years, and more than one-quarter (26%) said they planned to purchase food and beverage products by way of a device with Internet access — such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet — in the next three to six months, according to Nielsen.

NEW YORK — Global consumers' intent to buy food and beverages online has jumped 44% in two years, and more than one-quarter (26%) said they planned to purchase food and beverage products by way of a device with Internet access — such as a computer, mobile phone or tablet — in the next three to six months, according to Nielsen.

August 28, 2012
2012 off to 'soft start' as patent cliff continues

While the growth in healthcare costs remains a threat in the United States, the growth in drug expenditures is moderating, but numerous opportunities exist for retail, according to a speech delivered Tuesday morning at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' 2012 Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Denver by Doug Long, VP industry relations of healthcare industry research firm IMS Health.

DENVER — While the growth in healthcare costs remains a threat in the United States, the growth in drug expenditures is moderating, but numerous opportunities exist for retail, according to a speech delivered Tuesday morning at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' 2012 Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Denver by Doug Long, VP industry relations of healthcare industry research firm IMS Health.

August 28, 2012
IHL study: Self-checkouts on the rise

Self-checkout technology continues to rise in importance at retailers in North America, according to a new study by IHL Group.

NEW YORK — Self-checkout technology continues to rise in importance at retailers in North America, according to a new study by IHL Group.

The "2012 North American Kiosk" study finds that self-checkout shipments are increasing 8% year to year, with self-checkout transactions exceeding $255 billion annually in North America. Transactions at self-service kiosks are growing more than 7% per year in North America, and are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2014.

August 28, 2012
Winning CPG companies outperform peers in four key areas, report finds

Consumer packaged goods companies that are "winning" in their categories outperform competitors in bold investment in growth areas; advanced use of analytics to fine-tune pricing and promotion; prioritization of retailer relationships; and commitment to talent development and strategic planning efforts.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Consumer packaged goods companies that are "winning" in their categories outperform competitors in bold investment in growth areas; advanced use of analytics to fine-tune pricing and promotion; prioritization of retailer relationships; and commitment to talent development and strategic planning efforts.

August 27, 2012
Multichannel strategies rise in importance

Do you doubt the importance of having a multichannel strategy to reach shoppers? If so, consider the fact that — for as little 2.5% off — nearly half of your customers will walk out of the store to make their purchase online. How about a 5% discount? Well, that number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Do you doubt the importance of having a multichannel strategy to reach shoppers? If so, consider the fact that — for as little 2.5% off — nearly half of your customers will walk out of the store to make their purchase online. How about a 5% discount? Well, that number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave.

August 27, 2012
Survey: Consumers may get early start on holiday shopping due to economic outlook

It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

AUSTIN, Texas — It seems that consumers' outlook on the economy is influencing how they will shop this upcoming holiday season, according to a new survey.

August 26, 2012
Survey: Medication flavoring impacts pharmacy satisfaction, loyalty

Customer satisfaction and pharmacy loyalty among parents increase significantly when the pharmacist can add custom flavoring to a child's medications, according to a new study.

COLUMBIA, Md. – Customer satisfaction and pharmacy loyalty among parents increase significantly when the pharmacist can add custom flavoring to a child's medications, according to a new study.

August 26, 2012
Walgreens' A-Team transforming pharmacy retail on multiple fronts

Man, you gotta love it when a plan comes together. In the past week, two stories broke that will help position Walgreens at the top of their A-game.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Man, you gotta love it when a plan comes together. In the past week, two stories broke that will help position Walgreens at the top of their A-game. One is the announcement of Walgreens' entree into the loyalty card arena in just a few short weeks; the other is a huge technology news of Walgreens' rollout of an electronic health record across the company's entire platform. And all this not too long after announcing a blockbuster partnership with Alliance Boots and not too long before Walgreens rejoins the Express Scripts pharmacy network.

August 24, 2012
Paging Dr. Drug Store: Retailers expand healthcare access

The retailization of health care, as it's called in the Aug. 27 issue of Drug Store News, could turn out to be one of the most significant developments in the history of retail and health care alike.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The retailization of health care, as it's called on the cover of the Aug. 27 issue of Drug Store News, could turn out to be one of the most significant developments in the history of retail and health care alike.

(THE NEWS: Walmart takes a shot at expanding healthcare access. For the full story, click here.)

August 23, 2012
AcelRx starts third phase-3 trial of drug for post-operative pain

A drug maker that specializes in pain medications started the third late-stage trial of a drug for treating pain in patients who have undergone certain surgeries.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A drug maker that specializes in pain medications started the third late-stage trial of a drug for treating pain in patients who have undergone certain surgeries.

August 23, 2012
J&J, GSK start phase-3 trial program for rheumatoid arthritis drug

A division of Johnson & Johnson has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug for rheumatoid arthritis under a partnership with British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

SPRING HOUSE, Pa. — A division of Johnson & Johnson has started a late-stage clinical trial program for a drug for rheumatoid arthritis under a partnership with British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline.

August 21, 2012
Study: Discounts as low as 2.5% sway shoppers to leave stores, purchase online

Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

ST. LOUIS — Forty-five percent of customers shopping in-store at brick-and mortar-locations will walk out and complete their purchase online for a discount as low as 2.5%, according to new showrooming research from GroupM Next.

This number jumps to 60% of shoppers who will leave and purchase a product online for a savings of 5%. When discovering an online discount of 20%, a small percentage of shoppers (13%) stay and complete their purchase in store.

August 17, 2012
Better health doesn't just happen at Walgreens, it happens through Walgreens

Even just a few years ago, this kind of collaboration between a healthcare group and a drug store around a comprehensive food nutrition education program probably wouldn't have happened. Truth be told, it really isn't happening today. And that's because Walgreens isn't a drug store. Walgreens is a health and daily living solutions store.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Even just a few years ago, this kind of collaboration between a healthcare group and a drug store around a comprehensive food nutrition education program probably wouldn't have happened. Truth be told, it really isn't happening today. And that's because Walgreens isn't a drug store. Walgreens is a health and daily living solutions store.

August 17, 2012
NRF survey: Plenty of BTS shopping to do

According to the National Retail Federation and BIGinsight's 2012 "Back-to-School" survey, families with school and college-aged students as of Aug. 7 said they have more than half of their shopping lists to complete.

WASHINGTON — According to the National Retail Federation and BIGinsight's "2012 Back-to-School" survey, families with school and college-aged students as of Aug. 7 said they have more than half of their shopping lists to complete.

The average person with children in grades kindegarten through 12 has completed 40.1% of their shopping, while college shoppers and their families have completed slightly more at 45.3%.

Overall, school and college shoppers this year are expected to spend a total of $83.8 billion.

August 17, 2012
Pharmacists, retail clinicians move to front lines of health care

The idea of pharmacists as the most accessible healthcare professionals isn't just some hokey marketing gimmick: It's a readily observable fact, and one that will become increasingly important as retail pharmacies and retail clinics play a greater role on the front lines of care.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The idea of pharmacists as the most accessible healthcare professionals isn't just some hokey marketing gimmick: It's a readily observable fact, and one that will become increasingly important as retail pharmacies and retail clinics play a greater role on the front lines of care.