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FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has appointed a longtime specialty pharmacy executive to its executive team, the company said Thursday.

Diplomat announced that it had made Gary Rice its VP clinical services. Rice had previously worked as Diplomat's director of clinical services.

ATLANTA — Sales of smoking-cessation products may realize a March boom following a recent government advertising campaign that encourages Americans to quit smoking.

One week following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's launch of its Tips from Former Smokers campaign, calls to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW quitline were up 130.4%, the agency reported Monday. Calls were up an additional 3.5% in the subsequent week.

A record 34,413 calls were fielded between March 26 and April 1, the CDC reported.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Monday announced that state health policy professional Leigh Knotts will serve as director of state government affairs, responsible for advocacy in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Knotts will join NACDS’ state team, for a total of six state directors, all of whom report to Sandra Guckian, NACDS VP state government affairs.

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet on Thursday morning heard testimony regarding H.R. 1946, "Preserving Our Hometown Independent Pharmacies Act of 2011." Originally introduced by Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Louie Gahmert, R-Texas, the bill is intended to exempt independent pharmacists from antitrust regulation in an effort to bolster their negotiating powers with pharmacy benefit managers.

WAYZATA, Minn. — Truvia is expanding its product line to include an item that bakes and browns like sugar.

Truvia Baking Blend, a blend of Truvia natural sweetener and sugar, touts 75% fewer calories per serving than regular sugar but has the equivalent sweetness of 3 lbs. of sugar, the company said. The product is packaged in a 1.5-lb. bag that features a closeable, easy-to-pour spout.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration's director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Janet Woodcock, on Thursday identified three tools the agency wanted to use in potentially increasing access to appropriate medicines in her opening remarks at the FDA Rx-to-OTC Switch Hearing held here.

CLICHY, France — French beauty brand L'Oréal has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a business ethics think tank, as one of its 2012 "World's Most Ethical Companies." This marks the third time that L'Oréal has been recognized for promoting the highest of ethical standards.

WESTLAKE, Texas — Healthcare supply chain software developer Supplylogix has appointed a former Safeway executive as its director of product development.

Supplylogix announced the hiring of Glen Davis, saying he would help expand the company's suite of products that pharmacies and other healthcare providers use to improve supply chain performance.

WASHINGTON — The country's largest organization that certifies pharmacy technicians has a new leader.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board announced Thursday the selection of retired Air Force colonel Everett McAllister as its new executive director and CEO, replacing interim executive director William Schimmel, who will return to his role of associate director.

After strong growth, the cereal/granola bar category is showing slower growth. A report on “Food Bars in the U.S.” by Packaged Facts estimated U.S. sales of 
cereal/granola bars at $3.1 billion in 2011, with flat sales for the overall category, despite some growth in premium granola bars. Experian Simmons data showed that 40% of adults use cereal/granola bar products overall, said David Sprinkle, research director at Packaged Facts.

SUPPLIER NEWS — Jelly Belly 
is expanding its Chocolate Dips line to include a new sweet flavor. The company said its strawberry flavor will be available in a 2.8-oz. bag. The family of Jelly Bean Chocolate Dips also includes coconut, mint, orange, raspberry and Very Cherry flavors.


ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Several Congress leaders last week penned a letter to the Department of Defense's Director of Tricare Management Activity warning of potential cost increases should the proposed merger between pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts and Medco Health clear regulatory hurdles.