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May 7, 2013
Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board to start offering certification exam in October

The outline of an exam that will be used to certify pharmacists working in the specialty channel has received approval from the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board, the group said.

TAMPA, Fla. — The outline of an exam that will be used to certify pharmacists working in the specialty channel has received approval from the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board, the group said Tuesday.

May 7, 2013
Target soft opens western Canada stores

Target opened 22 of its stores in western Canada Tuesday and will open two more next Tuesday, the mass merchandise retailer said.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Target is opening 22 of its stores in western Canada Tuesday and two more next Tuesday, the mass merchandise retailer said.

Target announced that it would soft open stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. Most of the stores will include pharmacies and in-store Starbucks. The chain plans to open 124 stores across Canada this year and opened 24 in Ontario in March.

May 7, 2013
Target uses giant 'dollhouse' to showcase new home products collection

Grand Central Terminal in New York played host to a life-sized "dollhouse" this week as Target showcased its new collection of products, including housewares, indoor and outdoor furniture and decorative items.

NEW YORK — Grand Central Terminal in New York played host to a life-sized "dollhouse" this week as Target showcased its new collection of products, including housewares, indoor and outdoor furniture and decorative items.

The dollhouse, used to promote the Threshold collection through Tuesday evening, includes seven rooms upstairs and downstairs furnished with the new products, though only the downstairs rooms are accessible. The display was featured in the century-old, iconic train station's Vanderbilt Hall.

May 7, 2013
U.S. to contribute to 'rapid' biosimilar market growth through 2023, study finds

The global market for biosimilars will be worth nearly $2.5 billion this year, according to a new study.

LONDON — The global market for biosimilars will be worth nearly $2.5 billion this year, according to a new study.

The study, by British market research firm Visiongain, forecast that the $2.445 billion market size marked more than 20% of growth from 2012 and would account for about 2% of the overall market for biologics. The market is expected to grow rapidly through 2023 as biosimilars hit the market in the United States and European Union.

May 6, 2013
CVS handles back-end functions as Pfizer sells Viagra online

Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

The drug maker announced that it had launched Viagra (sildenafil citrate) home delivery, a prescription-fulfillment website for the drug, which is powered by CVS/pharmacy and accessible through Viagra.com.

May 6, 2013
FDA approves Bristol-Myers Squibb's Sustiva for HIV in infants, toddlers

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for HIV in infants and toddlers.

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug for HIV in infants and toddlers.

May 6, 2013
FDA approves Merck cholesterol drug

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug made by Merck for treating high cholesterol, the drug maker said.

Merck announced the approval of Liptruzet (ezetimibe and atorvastatin). The drug combines two preexisting cholesterol drugs: ezetimibe, which Merck markets under the brand name Zetia, and atorvastatin, which Pfizer markets under the name Lipitor. Both drugs are available as generics, but because Liptruzet is a novel combination of them, it required FDA approval as a new drug.

May 6, 2013
FDA gives breakthrough therapy designation to experimental hepatitis C regimen

An experimental drug regimen under development by AbbVie could change the way hepatitis C is treated, according to a special designation it received from the Food and Drug Administration.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. — An experimental drug regimen under development by AbbVie could change the way hepatitis C is treated, according to a special designation it received from the Food and Drug Administration.

May 6, 2013
Florida legislature passes biosimilar substitution bill

Florida's state legislature approved a bill last week that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for brand name biotech drugs.

NEW YORK — Florida's state legislature approved a bill last week that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for brand name biotech drugs.

The bill, which was approved last Tuesday and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, institutes requirements for pharmacists to substitute biosimilars when they are determined to be biosimilar to and interchangeable with the brand name product, while also requiring the state board of pharmacy to maintain a current list of interchangeable products.

May 6, 2013
New Jersey attorney general's office releases anticrime best practices for pharmacy

Retail pharmacies, drug makers and law enforcement have a variety of methods used to fight organized crime, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has drawn up a list of best practices that pharmacies can use to keep stores, drugs, staff and customers safe.

NEW YORK — Retail pharmacies, drug makers and law enforcement have a variety of methods used to fight organized crime, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has drawn up a list of best practices that pharmacies can use to keep stores, drugs, staff and customers safe.

May 6, 2013
Pregnant women shouldn't use valproate drugs to prevent migraines, FDA warns

Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Pregnant women should not use migraine-prevention medications containing valproate sodium due to a higher risk of decreased IQ scores in children, the Food and Drug Administration warned Monday.

In addition to being used to prevent migraines, valproate drugs are used for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder and include related drugs such as divalproex sodium and valproic acid. Most are available in generic form as well as under brand names like AbbVie's Depacon and Depakote and others.

May 6, 2013
Rite Aid to launch sixth annual Healthy Skin Tour

Rite Aid is sending out a customized 38-ft. van to 50 stores around the country as part of a campaign to promote skin care.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is sending out a customized 38-ft. van to 50 stores around the country as part of a campaign to promote skin care.

The retail pharmacy chain announced Monday the start of the Road to Healthy Skin Tour, which it is sponsoring on behalf of the Skin Cancer Foundation to coincide with Skin Cancer Awareness Month. The tour is in its sixth year and will visit Rite Aid stores in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West.

May 6, 2013
Sam's Club offers skin, weight, stress screenings

Sam's Club is offering free skin and weight screenings during the weekend, the club retailer said Monday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is offering free skin and weight screenings during the weekend, the club retailer said Monday.

Sam's Club said all of its stores that operate pharmacies would offer the screenings, as well as screenings for the effects of stress on both, on Saturday. The screenings include body mass index, blood tests for the stress hormone cortisol, weight, height, blood pressure and vision. The stores also will give away certificates for free samples of the probiotic supplement Align.

May 3, 2013
Actavis sales up 24% in first quarter 2013

Actavis' had $1.9 billion in sales in first quarter 2013, the drug maker said.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Actavis' had $1.9 billion in sales in first quarter 2013, the drug maker said.

The latest figure represented a 24% increase from first quarter 2012's $1.52 billion. "The new Actavis is off to a strong start in 2013, and as a result, we are increasing our 2013 forecast based on the strong performance and execution against our objectives to date," president and CEO Paul Bisaro said.

May 3, 2013
Hain Celestial buys Ella's Kitchen

Hain Celestial Group, the company that makes Celestial Seasonings tea and other products, has purchased organic baby food company Ella's Kitchen Group, the company said.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Hain Celestial Group, the company that makes Celestial Seasonings tea and other products, has purchased organic baby food company Ella's Kitchen Group, the company said.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company said Ella's had $70 million in sales last year. The company markets its products in the United States, United Kingdom and Scandinavia, offering 80 products for babies, toddlers and small children. In addition, Ella's founder Paul Lindley will become CEO of Hain Celestial US's new Global Infant, Toddler and Kids Division.

May 3, 2013
Higher rate of pelvic pain found among women taking low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives

Women who take low-dose oral contraceptives may be at increased risk of chronic pelvic-pain symptoms and pain during sexual climax, according to a new study.

SAN DIEGO — Women who take low-dose oral contraceptives may be at increased risk of chronic pelvic-pain symptoms and pain during sexual climax, according to a new study.

The study, scheduled for presentation to reporters at the American Urological Association's annual scientific meeting in San Diego on Tuesday, was conducted by researchers at New York University and the Waitemata District Health Board in Auckland, New Zealand, compared CPPS in young women who used oral contraceptives with the condition in those who didn't.

May 3, 2013
IMS Health acquires Semantelli Corp.

Healthcare analytics firm IMS Health has acquired social media analytics company Semantelli Corp., saying the purchase would allow it to provide real-time monitoring and delivery of insights into consumer and physician behavior and sentiments.

DANBURY, Conn. — Healthcare analytics firm IMS Health has acquired social media analytics company Semantelli Corp., saying the purchase would allow it to provide real-time monitoring and delivery of insights into consumer and physician behavior and sentiments.

May 3, 2013
Kellogg looks to new adult breakfast offerings to boost segment sales

Cereal maker Kellogg is hoping to appeal to adult customers with new breakfast food lines, the company said in announcing its first quarter 2013 earnings.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Cereal maker Kellogg Co. is hoping to appeal to adult customers with new breakfast food lines, the company said in announcing its first quarter 2013 earnings.

In a conference call with financial analysts, CEO John Bryant said the company plans to launch Raisin Bran with omega-3, multi-grain Special K and new additions to the Kashi brand later this year, citing lagging sales in the adult-products segment compared with products aimed at children.

May 3, 2013
Retail industry showed significant job growth in April; unemployment falls by 0.1%

The retail industry added nearly 30,000 jobs last month amid a general uptick in hiring that brought unemployment down to 7.5%, according to the Department of Labor.

WASHINGTON — The retail industry added nearly 30,000 jobs last month amid a general uptick in hiring that brought unemployment down to 7.5%, according to the Department of Labor.

The department's monthly jobs report showed the economy added 165,000 jobs, including 29,000 in the retail industry, which accounts for the largest number of private sector jobs. In addition, the March jobs report, which initially showed that the economy added only 88,000 jobs, was revised upward to 138,000, while the February report was revised upward to 332,000.

May 3, 2013
Study finds testicular cancer rates on the rise among males aged 15-34

Rates of testicular cancer among young men have risen significantly over the last two decades across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study, and researchers are wondering what accounts for it.

SAN DIEGO — Rates of testicular cancer among young men have risen significantly over the last two decades across racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study, and researchers are wondering what accounts for it.

May 2, 2013
Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim launch educational program for healthcare professionals

Drug makers Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly have started a campaign designed to educate healthcare professionals about the role a type of protein plays in maintaining blood-sugar balance.

INDIANAPOLIS — Drug makers Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly have started a campaign designed to educate healthcare professionals about the role a type of protein plays in maintaining blood-sugar balance.

BI and Lilly created the website sglt.com to inform users about the role of sodium glucose co-transporters. The program also includes a video, Glucose Perspectives, in the form of a sketch animation by the United Kingdom's Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

May 2, 2013
Energizer posts $7 million increase in profit in second quarter 2013

Energizer Holdings had sales of $1.095 billion in second quarter 2013, a 0.5% decrease from second quarter 2012, and $2.28 billion for the first six months of the fiscal year, which ended March 31, also a 0.5% decrease from the same period last year, the company said.

ST. LOUIS — Energizer Holdings had sales of $1.095 billion in second quarter 2013, a 0.5% decrease from second quarter 2012, and $2.28 billion for the first six months of the fiscal year, which ended March 31, also a 0.5% decrease from the same period last year, the company said.

Profits for the quarter were $85 million, compared with $78 million last year.

May 2, 2013
Gojo launches 'Tough Job - Sweet Deal' sweepstakes

Hygiene products manufacturer Gojo Industries is sponsoring a special promotion targeted at people that really get their hands dirty at work, the company announced.

AKRON, Ohio — Hygiene products manufacturer Gojo Industries is sponsoring a special promotion targeted at people that really get their hands dirty at work, the company announced.

Gojo announced the "Gojo Tough Job. Sweet Deal. Giveaway" contest and sweepstakes, which started Wednesday. The contest is designed to appeal to people working in jobs that require them to regularly use industrial and automotive hand degreaser and other hand cleaning and conditioning products.

May 2, 2013
Investments in omnichannel, loyalty program highlighted at Sears Holdings shareholder meeting

Among the highlights of the first Sears Holdings shareholder meeting since Edward Lampert became chairman and CEO were details on the company's progress in combining its brick-and-mortar and online businesses.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Among the highlights of the first Sears Holdings shareholder meeting since Edward Lampert became chairman and CEO were details on the company's progress in combining its brick-and-mortar and online businesses.

May 2, 2013
More than 80% of mothers regularly experience pain, survey finds

The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

STERLING, Ill. — The vast majority of mothers experience pain throughout their bodies, according to a new survey.

The survey, commissioned by electric massager maker Wahl Clipper Corp. and conducted by Harris Interactive, found that 84% of mothers experience pain. This includes 80% who experience lower back pain, 76% with shoulder and neck pain, 70% with upper back pain and 65% with joint pain. The survey included 2,000 men and women, including 300 mothers with children younger than 18, who were asked about their pain and how they cope with it.