Content about People in the News

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation into law Monday that will allow patients using prescription eye drops to get early refills in order to prevent interruptions in therapy.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales grew 7% in April over April 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales of $7.98 billion for the four weeks that ended Sunday, compared with $7.48 billion during the same period last year. Sales for the 35-week period that ended Sunday were $69 billion, 9% higher than the $63.59 billion recorded last year.

Sales in the United States at continuously open stores since last April increased by 4%, while same-store sales for the 35 weeks that ended Sunday increased 6%.

WASHINGTON — One of the difficulties that federal regulators ran into during the nationwide scandal surrounding the New England Compounding Center — the Massachusetts-based pharmacy blamed for a nationwide fungal meningitis epidemic that has sickened hundreds and killed dozens — was the issue of when such pharmacies cross the line from compounding to manufacturing.

WASHINGTON — Drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb foresees significant effects on its business from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, company executives told attendees of the its recent shareholder meeting.

NEW YORK — A pharmacist in Queens has received accolades for giving out vitamins to children whose families can't afford them.

New York television station NY1 earlier this year named Nina Shamayeva, owner of Austin Pharmacy in the Forest Hills neighborhood, as its "Queens Person of the Week" for her free vitamin program, whereby children younger than 12 years old can receive a free bottle of chewable vitamins each month for a year. "A lot of people cannot afford to buy vitamins for their kinds," Shamayeva said.

LANGLEY, British Columbia — Pharmasave Drugs, which has more than 475 community retail pharmacies across Canada, has appointed Carmen Churcott as CEO, effective May 1.

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.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has signed on as a platinum sponsor of the Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk for Women, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

The company will sponsor the New York and Los Angeles events this month, fielding teams of runners and walkers, manning booths and bringing fitness expert Denise Austin to warm up participants, as well as partnering with Revlon to donate a combined $100,000 to the EIF in support of efforts against women's cancer.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A Food and Drug Administration staffer who has led implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Act has been named to a new director position at the agency, the FDA said Monday.

The FDA announced that it had appointed Mary Beth Clarke as permanent director of the Office of Executive Programs. Clarke had previously served as the OEP's executive director.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway late Monday announced that Robert Edwards, currently the company's president, will succeed Steven Burd as CEO when Burd retires as chairman and CEO on May 14. Edwards, 57, will also join the company's board of directors.

"Since he arrived here in 2004, Robert has successfully met every challenge he has faced," Burd stated. "He has demonstrated the ability to lead the company in all facets of its operations, and has earned the respect of the entire organization."

TAMPA, Fla. — Fairview Pharmacy Services director of business development Thomas Blissenbach has been appointed to the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy's board of directors, the NASP said.

Blissenbach has worked in hospital and alternative-site pharmacy for more than 40 years and has developed and led several ambulatory pharmacy business units since joining Fairview in 2000.