Content about president and CEO

PHILADELPHIA — Lannett has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market its version of an anti-obesity drug.

The FDA approved Lannett's abbreviated new drug application for diethylpropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 75-mg strength. The company expects to begin shipping the product immediately.

WASHINGTON — The Drug Store News Group editor Rob Eder moderated a special Congressional briefing hosted by the American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Sept. 27 for U.S. House of Representatives staffers.


Eder, who presented on current retail trends in homeopathic remedy sales, Americans’ growing interest in self-care and implications for U.S. health care, also moderated a panel discussion of experts, including AAHP president Mark Land and legal counsel Al Lorman, as well as Wayne Jonas, president and CEO of 
Samueli Institute.


BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Two years of declining same-store sales at Walmart are poised to end next month when the retailer reports third-quarter results that reflect positive momentum from a wide range of initiatives put in place during the past 12 months, judging from comments made by senior executives during an all-day meeting with analysts on Wednesday.

At press time, the industry was weighing the potential merger of pharmacy benefit manager rivals Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions, but executives at CVS Caremark remain more confident than ever that its PBM business is ideally positioned to “effectively compete,” regardless of what federal trade regulators decide for ESI-Medco. And there’s good reason why.


CVS Caremark may be highly focused on driving medication adherence, curbing rising healthcare costs and improving the health outcomes of its patients, but there’s no doubt that its retail segment remains a critical part of its business, as evidenced by the innovative initiatives playing out at the front end.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Sunday named Eddie Glover, president and CEO of U.S. Compounding in Conway, Ark., the recipient of the 2011 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award.

CVS Caremark may be highly focused on driving medication adherence, curbing rising healthcare costs and improving the health outcomes of its patients, but there’s no doubt that its retail segment remains a critical part of its business, as evidenced by the innovative initiatives playing out at the front end.


DEERFIELD, Ill. — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius will receive her seasonal flu vaccine and will talk about the importance of prevention measures and flu season preparedness Wednesday morning at a Walgreens "health and daily living" pilot store in Chicago.

The secretary also will tour the store with Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson, who will highlight the store's ability to offer accessible, preventive health services, such as flu vaccinations and diabetes care in underserved communities.

SALT LAKE CITY — Schiff Nutrition International on Wednesday named Shane Durkee SVP research and development.

“We welcome Shane and believe his proven track record in driving nutritional supplements innovation will contribute significantly to accelerating our new product program and organic growth," Schiff president and CEO Tarang Amin said.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — “I wore a baseball cap and sweatshirt and went into some old and new stores,” Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson told BusinessWeek about the time in 2009 when he went undercover to check out the competition in Manhattan, for the story that appears in its Sept 30 issue. “The moment I decided we should get serious about buying Duane Reade was after seeing their new Herald Square store. … I said, ‘Duane Reade is creating something new.’ That’s what we were looking to do.”

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — In her new role as president and CEO of Walmart Canada, Shelley Broader will be tasked with addressing new competition from Target and other retailers expanding into Canada. Broader, who joined Walmart Canada in 2010 as chief merchandising officer, will assume her new role, effective immediately.

Prior to Walmart, Broader held a range of key positions with Michael's and Hannaford Bros., as well as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens mitigated projected repercussions out of the chain's withdrawal from the Express Scripts pharmacy network come January, as the Walgreens/Express Scripts failed negotiations again dominated the pharmacy's quarterly analyst call Tuesday morning. All told, Express Scripts represents $5.3 billion in revenue to Walgreens, but the Chicago-based pharmacy is working toward retaining the prescription business from several employers and payers, "consistent with their contractual obligations," executives emphasized.