Content about Longs Drugs

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is reportedly looking to expand outside of the United States by acquiring Onofre, the eighth-largest pharmacy chain in Brazil, according to published reports.

The Valor Economico newspaper reported that CVS Caremark plans to pay $313 million to acquire an 80% stake in Onofre and will also assume the company's debt.

“We don’t comment on market rumors,” CVS Caremark spokesman Mike DeAngelis told Drug Store News.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced that it has reached a civil settlement with the United States Department of Justice regarding its investigation into certain business practices of a subsidiary of Longs Drug Stores, which began prior to the acquisition of Longs by CVS Caremark in October 2008. 

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, RxAmerica has expressly denied any liability.

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.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday unveiled a plan to help Express Scripts patients to either continue using Walgreens when possible or to make a smooth transition to another community pharmacy. The plan seeks to minimize patient disruption and inconvenience, the pharmacy operator stated.

NEW YORK — CVS/pharmacy. Rite Aid. Walgreens. Sam’s Club. Ahold. H-E-B. The Katz Group. Giant Eagle. Good Neighbor. Health Mart. The list of participating companies in the 13th Annual Drug Store News Group Industry Issues conference — which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 29, here at the highly prestigious New York Athletic Club — reads like a “who’s who” of pharmacy retailing.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Less than a month following the departure of former EVP merchandising and supply chain Mike Bloom to lead Family Dollar, it's official — Judy Strauss Sansone will lead CVS’ merchandising team, the company announced Monday, naming the 30-year CVS veteran SVP merchandising.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The retirement of Katz Group Canada CEO Andy Giancamilli come February will mark the rise of pharmacy veteran Frank Scorpiniti, who will take the helm of the Canadian retailer.


Scorpiniti joined Katz Group Canada in April 2011 as COO. Long regarded as one of the bright young executives in retail pharmacy, Scorpiniti now will get a chance to lead a progressive Canadian pharmacy chain, with a hot new Rexall Healthy Living concept, a national presence under Rexall and a slew of innovative programs like the employer-based Rexall Network program.


WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy's ExtraCare Rewards program, which has more than 67 million active cardholders and this year celebrates its 10-year anniversary, announced on Friday the launch of a new interactive digital campaign that encourages cardholders to take advantage of their earned rewards, as well as a new look for the ExtraBucks rewards receipt.

With a new leader at the helm, a robust management team in place and an unwavering focus on driving medication adherence and reducing healthcare costs, CVS Caremark remains squarely on the growth path and continues to play an increasingly important role in U.S. health care with its far-reaching store network and arsenal of products and services.


WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As previously announced and widely reported, March 1 marks the day that Larry Merlo officially assumes the role of CEO of CVS Caremark. Merlo, who now serves as president and CEO, succeeds Tom Ryan, who remains nonexecutive chairman until his retirement at the company's annual meeting of shareholders in May.

Upon Ryan's retirement as chairman in May, the company intends to elect CVS Caremark board member David Dorman as the next nonexecutive chairman at the 2011 annual meeting. Dorman has been on the CVS Caremark board of directors since 2006.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The news that Larry Merlo is taking the helm at CVS Caremark was expected, but that doesn't take away from its significance.

(THE NEWS: Merlo to assume CEO role at CVS Caremark. For the full story, click here)

Since beginning his career in chain pharmacy in 1978 with People's Drug (which CVS acquired in 1990), Merlo has become an operations guru who wrote the book on successfully integrating acquisitions.