Content about Law

April 1, 2013

Actavis seeks approval for additional strength of generic testosterone gel

Just a week after the Supreme Court heard the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit over its deal with AbbVie to sell a generic version of a testosterone-replacement therapy, Actavis is challenging the patent on another strength of the drug.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Just a week after the Supreme Court heard the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit over its deal with AbbVie to sell a generic version of a testosterone-replacement therapy, Actavis is challenging the patent on another strength of the drug.

Actavis said Monday that it had filed with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of testosterone gel in the 1.62% strength. The drug is a generic version of AbbVie's AndroGel 1.62%. The case that went before the Supreme Court on March 25 concerns the 1% strength of AndroGel.

April 1, 2013

MinuteClinic bolsters clinical affiliations with new Sharp Healthcare partnership

Retail-based clinic operator MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark, and Southern California healthcare system Sharp HealthCare have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to healthcare services throughout San Diego County.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. and SAN DIEGO — Retail-based clinic operator MinuteClinic, a division of CVS Caremark, and Southern California healthcare system Sharp HealthCare have entered into a clinical affiliation to enhance access to healthcare services throughout San Diego County.

MinuteClinic currently has 10 walk-in medical clinics in San Diego County.

April 1, 2013

Safeway launches annual campaign for people with disabilities

Safeway has launched its annual April fundraising campaign to benefit people with disabilities, the supermarket chain said.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has launched its annual April fundraising campaign to benefit people with disabilities, the supermarket chain said Monday.

The company said The Safeway Foundation, its philanthropic arm, had launched the campaign to benefit Easter Seals, Special Olympics and other groups, saying its Support for People with Disabilities campaign had contributed more than $140 million.

March 29, 2013

Google starts testing program for Google Shopping Express

Google is officially unveiling its testing program for its new online delivery service in the San Francisco Bay area of California, the Internet company said on its website.

NEW YORK — Google is officially unveiling its testing program for its new online delivery service in the San Francisco Bay area of California, the Internet company said on its website.

Google Shopping Express promises same-day delivery to customers directly from such retailers as Target, Walgreens, Raley's, Toys "R" Us, American Eagle and others.

March 29, 2013

Pinnacle Foods rings NYSE Opening Bell to celebrate first day as public company

Parsippany, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods — manufacturer and distributor of such food brands as Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Vlasic, Mrs. Butterworth’s and others — opened for trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “PF” after its initial public offering.

NEW YORK — Parsippany, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods — manufacturer and distributor of such food brands as Birds Eye, Duncan Hines, Vlasic, Mrs. Butterworth’s and others — opened for trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “PF” after its initial public offering.

CEO Bob Gamgort, along with members of Pinnacle Foods’ leadership team, celebrated the company’s first day of trading by ringing the NYSE Opening Bell and visiting the trading floor to observe the stock opening.

March 28, 2013

Giant-Landover signs statement of support for National Guard, reserve

The head of Ahold USA's Giant-Landover banner has pledged the supermarket chain's support for the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

WASHINGTON — The head of Ahold USA's Giant-Landover banner has pledged the supermarket chain's support for the Department of Defense's Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Giant-Landover, officially Giant Food of Landover, Md., said president Anthony Hucker signed a statement of support for National Guard and reserve employees at the Brentwood Giant Food in Washington, accompanied by ESGR District of Columbia chairman George Alexander. Established in 1972, the ESGR develops and maintains employer support for the Guard and Reserve service.

March 26, 2013

Revamped Supervalu to cut 1,100 positions at district level and above

Supervalu on Tuesday announced plans to reduce its national workforce by an estimated 1,100 positions.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Tuesday announced plans to reduce its national workforce by an estimated 1,100 positions. The reductions include both current positions and open jobs that will not be filled.

March 25, 2013

Supreme Court hears patent-settlement case

The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a case that could determine the future of generic drugs in America.

NEW YORK — The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a case that could determine the future of generic drugs in America.

The case, Federal Trade Commission v. Actavis, marks the latest attempt by federal authorities to put an end to what they say are deals between branded and generic drug companies that delay release of generic drugs to consumers.

March 22, 2013

Change the channel: More consumers opt for mobile, online shopping

Google is dogfooding a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area to the Internet giant's employees. Target and several other retailers have been named as possible partners.

With Google now looking to compete with Amazon — not to mention Target's growing attention to online and mobile commerce — a growing body of consumer studies and industry trends shows that the most important emerging consumer demographic isn't men, women, old people or young people — but multichannel consumers.

Google is offering a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area to the Internet giant's employees. Target and several other retailers have been named as possible partners.

March 22, 2013

FDA commissioner calls for power to regulate compounding pharmacies

The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is renewing calls for legislation to give the agency more authority to regulate pharmacy compounding.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is renewing calls for legislation to give the agency more authority to regulate pharmacy compounding.

March 22, 2013

New site for diagnosing, treating UTIs speaks to rise in telehealth-type services

TreatMyUTI.com is an online service founded by a group of physicians that offers online access to physician diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections with no office visit, exam or lab test required.

This is important because it speaks to a much larger trend within health care, and that’s the continued rise of telehealth-type services as patients and providers increasingly battle a crisis of access and affordability of health care.

March 22, 2013

Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen help redefine economies of scale

Walgreens and Alliance Boots entered into a 10-year contract with wholesaler AmerisourceBergen on sourcing pharmaceuticals last week. But that's not all. Besides the long-term contract, Walgreens and Alliance Boots will have the option on a potential 23% equity stake in ABC in three years.

The deal takes pharmaceutical buying leverage to the stratosphere and changes the face of more than one health service industry. As Adam Fein, president of Pembroke Consulting, noted in a live television interview on Fox Business' "Money With Melissa Francis": "Three of the largest companies in the pharmaceutical industry have come together and built the single largest buyer of prescription drugs in the world," he said.

March 21, 2013

Supervalu completes deal with AB Acquisition

Supervalu announced the completion of the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium, in a stock deal valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Thursday announced the completion of the sale of its Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of a Cerberus Capital Management-led investor consortium, in a stock deal valued at $3.3 billion, including $100 million in cash and $3.2 billion in debt assumption.

March 20, 2013

Hy-Vee to merge Iowa drug store, supermarket

The Hy-Vee Drugstore in Cherokee, Iowa, will merge with the company's supermarket in the town next month, the supermarket pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

CHEROKEE, Iowa — The Hy-Vee Drugstore in Cherokee, Iowa, will merge with the company's supermarket in the town next month, the supermarket pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

"Having all our pharmacists together at the same location creates a more efficient operation and enables us to add Sunday hours, a service customers have requested," Hy-Vee assistant VP operations for the company's northwest district Tim Stupka said.

March 20, 2013

Reports: Google partners with Target in same-day delivery service

Google is looking to launch a competitor to Amazon Prime, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Google is looking to launch a competitor to Amazon Prime, according to published reports.

TechCrunch reported that Google was dogfooding a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area, but so far only to Google employees. Target, Nob Hill Foods and Babies'R'Us have been named as possible partners in the service, as well as five other stores in the area.

March 19, 2013

Support for comparative effectiveness research grows

A survey of 114 researchers, government officials, insurers, employers, business leaders and trade groups found nearly one-third say comparative effectiveness research will have a "moderate improvement" on healthcare decision making over the next 12 months.

WASHINGTON — A survey of 114 researchers, government officials, insurers, employers, business leaders and trade groups found nearly one-third say comparative effectiveness research will have a "moderate improvement" on healthcare decision making over the next 12 months.

March 19, 2013

Supreme Court to hear generic drug liability case

The question of whether a generic drug company can be held liable for harmful side effects from its medicines goes before the Supreme Court Tuesday in a case involving a New Hampshire woman who sustained several injuries after taking a generic pain drug.

WASHINGTON — The question of whether a generic drug company can be held liable for harmful side effects from its medicines goes before the Supreme Court Tuesday in a case involving a New Hampshire woman who sustained several injuries after taking a generic pain drug.

March 18, 2013

Coty deepens Delete Blood Cancer/DKMS support with U.K. launch

Beauty company Coty has announced its latest initiative in support of Delete Blood Cancer/DKMS: The Feb. 19, 2013, launch of the organization in the U.K.

WIMBLEDON, England — Beauty company Coty has announced its latest initiative in support of Delete Blood Cancer/DKMS: The Feb. 19, 2013, launch of the organization in the U.K.

March 14, 2013

Missouri attorney general introduces 'anti-smurfing' education campaign

Missouri attorney general Chris Koster joined Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and leaders from the Missouri Pharmacy Association and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to launch the state’s new voluntary retail Anti-Smurfing Campaign.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri attorney general Chris Koster joined Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker and leaders from the Missouri Pharmacy Association and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday to launch the state’s new voluntary retail Anti-Smurfing Campaign.

March 14, 2013

Safeway named to think tank's list of 'World's Most Ethical Companies'

Safeway has been named one of the 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, the company announced Thursday.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has been named one of the 2013 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, the company announced Thursday.

March 13, 2013

NCPA supports Ore. reimbursement, audit, pharmacy choice legislation

Bills introduced in Oregon's state legislature would allow employers and other health plan sponsors to have greater knowledge about how pharmacy benefit managers determine the rates at which they pay pharmacies for dispensing generic drugs; establish new standards for pharmacy audits while requiring PBMs to register in the state and be licensed by the state board of pharmacy; and prevent health plans from requiring residents of the state to use mail-order pharmacies.

NEW YORK — Bills introduced in Oregon's state legislature would allow employers and other health plan sponsors to have greater knowledge about how pharmacy benefit managers determine the rates at which they pay pharmacies for dispensing generic drugs; establish new standards for pharmacy audits while requiring PBMs to register in the state and be licensed by the state board of pharmacy; and prevent health plans from requiring residents of the state to use mail-order pharmacies.

March 11, 2013

'60 Minutes' report explores fungal meningitis outbreak

A report on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday explored the aftermath of the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to the New England Compounding Center that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has sickened 720 people in 20 states and led to 48 deaths.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A report on CBS' "60 Minutes" Sunday explored the aftermath of the nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to the New England Compounding Center that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has sickened 720 people in 20 states and led to 48 deaths.

March 11, 2013

New fragrances freshen Calgon lineup

Calgon bath and beauty brand announced the company is overhauling its look with new packaging and the introduction of four new fragrances.

BALTIMORE — Calgon bath and beauty brand announced today the company is overhauling its look with new packaging and the introduction of four new fragrances.

The new Calgon look showcases new colors and imagery with gold accents throughout the packaging.

March 11, 2013

Reports: Judge strikes down New York beverage rule

A judge in New York has blocked a controversial law banning the sale of large-sized sugary drinks, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A judge in New York has blocked a controversial law banning the sale of large-sized sugary drinks, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that state Supreme Court justice Milton Tingling invalidated the law. Mayor Michael Bloomberg had pushed the rule as a way to promote healthier diets for New Yorkers, but it attracted widespread criticism as intrusive.

March 8, 2013

'World class' in session

By now you probably have heard about "Walgreens University," the internal education center the company opened last month, complete with technology-enhanced classrooms, a mock drug store and video-conferencing capabilities for employee educational programs.

Competing in the new age of retail, where bricks, clicks and anything in between compete for a larger share of the omnichannel customer, will require new skill sets and a generally better-educated workforce. The winners will create a more personalized shopping experience that leverages the expertise in their stores.