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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. —Thermionics’ ThermiPaq products, which now sport an eye-catching yellow “Control Your Pain!” panel as part of a new graphics package, has been a significant driver of growth within the heat/ice packs segment of late.

For the 52 weeks ended Aug. 8, Thermipaq sales were up 27.2%, reaching $6.1 million across food, drug and mass (minus Walmart) outlets, according to SymphonyIRI Group data. That growth is outpacing the category as a whole, which currently is trending up 6.1%.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The drug industry is undergoing a major paradigm shift. Companies that traditionally have relied on blockbuster drugs are finding that model running dry as their biggest money-makers face competition from generics that eventually will lead to a heavily commoditized market for the disease states that have been the foundation for the model, such as high cholesterol, asthma, mental illness and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

INDIANAPOLIS Chip Ganassi Racing on Wednesday announced that GlaxoSmithKline’s Breathe Right brand will be placed on the nose of the team’s Target Indy car this weekend during the Peak Antifreeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 Chicagoland Speedway races.

Additionally, on Aug. 28, race fans will have the opportunity to meet two-time and reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti, driver of the Target Indy car, on-site at the Breathe Right Advanced tent where free product samples will be made available.

NEW YORK That $4.4 billion opportunity is really only the tip of the iceberg. The real opportunity, especially for pharmacists and their nurse practitioner/physician assistant partners, is in the ancillary services that will accompany the functionality behind wireless diagnostic devices — think a medication therapy management/chronic disease coaching one-two punch.