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CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif. — Net sales at 99 Cents Only Stores increased 8.8% in third quarter 2013, the company said.

The dollar-store chain announced sales of $439.5 million, a $35.6 million increase over third quarter 2012, while comps increased 4.3%. For the first three quarters of fiscal year 2013, sales were $1.23 billion, an 8.7% increase over the same period last year, while comps increased 4.3%. Profit for the quarter was $12.7 million, compared with $22.2 million at the end of third quarter 2012.

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Pharmacy automation system manufacturer Innovation has appointed Stephen Donohue as divisional VP sales, chain and high volume, the company said Thursday.

Innovation, which makes the PharmASSIST automation system, said Donohue would lead all the company's sales and marketing activity for the retail chain, mail order and central fill markets.

STAMFORD, Conn. — An insomnia drug made by Purdue Pharma "significantly" reduced the time it took patients to return to sleep after they'd woke up in the middle of the night, according to a new study.

The placebo-controlled study, published in the journal Sleep, tested the drug Intermezzo (zolpidem tartrate) sublingual tablets on 295 adults with primary insomnia and difficulty returning to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. Purdue said Intermezzo was the only drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating such patients.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club will offer free heart health screenings at 563 of its stores on Saturday, the club retailer said.

The screenings, taking place at stores with pharmacies, will include tests valued at up to $100 for glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision screenings.

NEW YORK — A new strain of the bacterium that causes whooping cough immune to vaccines may have appeared in the United States, according to a brief published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The brief, filed by officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health authorities, reported that a strain of Bordetella pertussis had been reported in Japan, France and Finland and may have appeared in Philadelphia, where 12 children were hospitalized between 2011 and 2012.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antibiotic made by Sandoz, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Sandoz, the generics arm of Swiss drug maker Novartis, announced the approval and launch of clindamycin in 5% dextrose in minibag form, the first generic version of Pfizer's Cleocin Phosphate in Dextrose 5%.

Sales of the branded version were $52.2 million in 2012, according to IMS Health.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — OraHealth has introduced a new treatment for dry mouth, the company said.

The Bellevue, Wash.-based oral health products manufacturer described XyliMelts for Dry Mouth as all-natural, oral-adhering discs that coat and soothe the mouth. The disks time-release xylitol and oral lubricant day and night to reduce tooth decay.

NEW YORK — Despite nearly half of shoppers using social media every day, less than one-fifth shop through them, according to a new study by PwC.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold has appointed the former head of one of its European supermarket chains to an executive position in its U.S. division.

Ahold USA said it appointed Jan van Dam as EVP supply chain and e-commerce, in which he will focus on supply chain for the company's four U.S. divisions, Stop & Shop in the New York area and New England, Giant-Landover and Giant-Carlisle. He will also be responsible for the company's e-commerce business with Andrew Parkinson, president and general manager of online grocery company Peapod, reporting to him.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Budweiser's "Clydesdale" ad during the Super Bowl was the most effective aired during the football game, according to a new study.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy is touting its stores as a "one-stop shop" for Valentine's Day shopping.

The retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday that stores had stocked up on items like cards and candy, including chocolates from companies like Hershey's, Lindt, Dove, Ferrero Rocher, Ghirardelli, Godiva and others.