Content about United States

CINCINNATI — A consumer products giant and a big-box retailer are looking to connect deployed members of the U.S. military with their families during the holiday season, with help from the United Service Organizations.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has made an emergency oral contraceptive available by prescription in the United States, the company said Wednesday.

Watson announced the launch of Ella (ulipristal acetate) in the 30-mg dose, designed to prevent pregnancy up to five days after unprotected sex or failure of other contraceptives. The drug is designed to delay ovulation for five days, the amount of time that sperm can survive in the female genital tract.

DUBUQUE, Iowa — A regional pharmacy chain has acquired a store based in Iowa.

Hartig Drug, which operates 16 stores throughout eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin, has acquired Darlington, Iowa-based Whitford Pharmacy, which has been in business since 1980.

HYDERABAD, India A generic drug maker has entered an agreement to purchase another drug maker's U.S. penicillin site.

Dr. Reddy's and GlaxoSmithKline have inked a deal in which GSK will transfer ownership of its penicillin manufacturing site in Bristol, Tenn., and rights for the Augmentin and Amoxil brands in the United States to Dr. Reddy’s, an India-based drug maker.

This transaction is expected to close within the first half of calendar year 2011. Further financial terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.

SILVER SPRING, Md. A drug maker will pull a common prescription painkiller from the market following the release of clinical data that it could cause heart problems.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The fact that CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic was highlighted as an innovator of healthcare delivery by the World Economic Forum's Innovation Health Care Delivery Project is important on several fronts. Not only does the recognition further illustrate the important role that convenient care clinics are playing in U.S. health care, but perhaps even more importantly, this forum also was a global stage for the clinic operator.

CALGARY, Alberta — The Jean Coutu Group may be only biding its time before making another go at a pharmacy operation in the United States, the Calgary Herald reported Friday, citing Jean Coutu Group chairman Jean Coutu’s recently released autobiography, written in French.

According to the report, Coutu suggested that jettisoning the Eckerd headquarters led to the early demise of the Brooks-Eckerd deal because there “weren't enough key personnel to make the merger work.”

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic, CVS Caremark's network of walk-in medical clinics, was highlighted as a breakthrough innovator in healthcare delivery by the World Economic Forum's Innovative Health Care Delivery Project.

In addition, MinuteClinic president and CVS Caremark SVP and associate chief medical officer Andrew Sussman presented MinuteClinic's approach to care at a World Economic Forum satellite session attended by healthcare experts, regulatory representatives, researchers and other innovators in Montreux, Switzerland, this week.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. Dollar Tree on Wednesday announced that it has completed its purchase of the assets of 86 Dollar Giant stores for approximately $52 million in cash, plus the assumption of certain liabilities.

This marks Dollar Tree's first expansion of retail operations outside of the United States.

BALTIMORE — The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday formally established the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

Established by the Affordable Care Act, the Innovation Center is charged with finding new ways of delivering health care and paying healthcare providers in an effort to save money for Medicare and Medicaid while improving the quality of care. CMS also announced the launch of new demonstration projects that will support efforts to better coordinate care and improve health outcomes for patients.

Should retail pharmacists tell their patients to eat a good breakfast?

A mountain of data showing the health benefits of a good breakfast — one that includes high-fiber foods like cereals and grains — point to an unequivocal answer: absolutely.
Studies have proven that eating breakfast is closely linked to healthy body weights, improved mental alertness and physical performance. Plus, people who skip breakfast don’t make up for the missed nutrients later in the day.

CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Hugo Naturals, a maker of natural personal care products, has received the gluten-free seal from the Celiac Sprue Association, designating the company's full range of products as gluten-free and appropriate for the growing population with celiac disease.