Content about Microbiology

NEW YORK For this season at least, retailers and suppliers of cough-cold products should have plenty of revenue to bank come March 2010. And that’s a stark contrast to more recent seasons — seasons that saw revenues decline both in part because illness rates were down and the fact that retailers were stocking less cough-cold supplies at their warehouses as a result.

NEW YORK The two takeaways from this story are “the [U.S.] market is expected to grow at a rate of almost 14%” and “the early movers in the industry will benefit in terms of market share.”

That about describes the opportunity in a probiotic nutshell.

NEW YORK No matter where that H1N1 vaccine is eventually disseminated to a waiting and acutely aware public — be it the corner pharmacy or the school gymnasium down the street — this year’s flu season featuring the novel H1N1 virus is expected to have a profound impact on pharmacy, and pharmacy is poised to take its place center stage.

NEW YORK The announcement that Walgreens eclipsed the 1 millionth shot mark on Sept. 15 — just two weeks after it began offering them — is a very public demonstration of the important public health role community pharmacy can play in the U.S. healthcare system.

While extremists on both sides of the spectrum argue over the future of healthcare reform and what it will look like, community pharmacy continues to show America what it’s got.

NEW YORK Bottom line: The CDC report means one of two things. The 2009-2010 flu season has kicked off to a roaring start as early as late August/early September — it usually doesn’t pick up until mid-October. Or that the 2008-2009 flu season never really ended.

As further proof that probiotics is continuing on its upward trend, Walgreens is fielding a private label probiotic multivitamin. What makes this interesting is that most probiotics on the shelf today are just that, probiotics. Fielding a probiotic multivitamin is more of a natural food position, and should create a strong point-of-differentiation for Walgreens.

NEW YORK The report by Kalorama Information indicating that one of the biggest areas of growth has been vaccines, and that the market is expected to double by 2013, is big news for the industry, as pharmacies and retail-based clinics are bound to reap the benefits.

This is especially true given the current trajectory health reform is on in this country, and the fact that clinics and pharmacies are emerging and expanding their services to help fill the “medical home” void.

When retailers and suppliers gather at the Cough, Cold and Allergy Show on March 2 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Destin, Fla., they will be discussing a variety of issues, including the impact of the FDA's recommendation against the use of cough-cold medicines for children under 2 years of age. Click below to download the PDF of ECRM Cough, Cold and Allergy 2008.