Content about Japan

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A rise in visits to professional outlets for skin care treatments in 2010 gave way to sales growth for the professional skin care products market, with Europe and the United States posting rebounds, according to a recently released study by consulting and research firm Kline.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's charitable arm announced it would donate $100,000 and launch an employee matching pledge of up to $50,000 to help with the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

The Safeway Foundation said the contribution will be distributed to the impacted area through the American Red Cross.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has made a donation to Save the Children to assist with Japan’s earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

The retailer said it has donated $500,000 to the cause.

Target said it encourages shoppers and team members to visit the Save the Children website to learn more about how they can help victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid’s philanthropic arm is donating to relief efforts in Japan.

The Rite Aid Foundation announced Wednesday that it was donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross' Japan earthquake fund.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, families and communities affected by this devastating tragedy,” Rite Aid Foundation president Mary Sammons said. “We are proud to partner with the American Red Cross and assist them in their mission of helping the people of Japan in their time of need.”

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has announced the donation of $100,000 to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts under way in Japan following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami, with a potential total donation of up to $300,000 through the matching of CVS Caremark employee donations.

TOKYO — Eli Lilly leader John Lechleiter has become something of an evangelist for medical innovation lately.

On Wednesday, the Lilly chairman, president and CEO spoke to the U.S./Japan Business Council in Tokyo to call for changes and policies in the biopharmaceutical industry that encourage innovation, or “reinventing invention,” as he called it.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Salix Pharmaceuticals and Progenics Pharmaceuticals have entered a licensing agreement for a drug used to treat side effects of opioid use.

The two companies signed the agreement for Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide), an injected drug used to treat opioid-induced constipation in patients for whom laxatives haven’t worked.

WINONA, Minn. — J.R. Watkins Naturals is expanding its presence in the Asian market by selling its personal care and home care products through retail chains in Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.

"There is a growing demand for heritage brands and natural products in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan," stated J.R. Rigley, J.R. Watkins Naturals' sales and marketing VP. "We are proud to bring more than 140 years of natural tradition to consumers in these countries."

BURLINGTON, Mass. The drug market for Crohn's disease treatments will see moderate growth over the next decade, Decision Resources reported Wednesday.

The research firm projected that the market will increase a little more than 31%, from $3.2 billion in 2009 to $4.2 billion in 2019, in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan. Decision Resources said the the modest growth rate masks such market changes as new and emerging biologics, as well as generic competition.