Content about Pharmaceutical sciences

January 31, 2013
Rite Aid same-store sales edge up in January

Rite Aid Corp. reported that same-store sales for the month of January edged up 0.3%, boosted by a 4.2% rise in front-end sales for the month along with increased prescription counts.

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid Corp. reported Thursday that same-store sales for the month of January edged up 0.3%, boosted by a 4.2% rise in front-end sales for the month along with increased prescription counts.

Total sales for the four-week period decreased 0.5% to $1.914 billion.

 

December 6, 2012
Rite Aid same-store sales down 3% in Q3

As expected, Hurricane Sandy left its mark on Rite Aid's monthly sales as the chain reported a decline in comps for November.

Camp Hill, Pa. — As expected, Hurricane Sandy left its mark on Rite Aid's monthly sales as the chain reported a decline in comps for November.

The company said the 3% decrease in same-store sales for the five-week period ended Saturday included a 0.5% decrease in front-end comps and a 4.2% decrease in pharmacy comps, while same-store prescription count increased 2.2% compared with the same time last year.

September 17, 2012
Alliance Boots acquires Chinese drug wholesaler stake

Swiss drugstore chain Alliance Boots said it has acquired a 12% stake in Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler Nanjing Pharmaceutical Co. for $88.5 million.

Zug, Switzerland -- Swiss drugstore chain Alliance Boots said Monday it has acquired a 12% stake in Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler Nanjing Pharmaceutical Co. for $88.5 million.

The deal follows Walgreen Co.’s $7 billion investment in Alliance Boots in a move to expand into China.

Alliance Boots runs the largest drugstore chain in the United Kingdom.

Walgreen’s initial plan is to acquire about 45% of Alliance Boots with an option to buy the rest of the company in three years.

 

April 13, 2012
Walmart and Humana team up on prescription program

Walmart is partnering with health services company Humana Inc. to offer a new prescription drug plan for insured employers and employees. Humana’s pharmacy benefits management subsidiary, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, will now offer the Walmart Rx Network.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart is partnering with health services company Humana Inc. to offer a new prescription drug plan for insured employers and employees. Humana’s pharmacy benefits management subsidiary, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, will now offer the Walmart Rx Network. The partnership will also offer a new formulary, or approved drug list, called Rx4Value.

February 2, 2012
CVS/pharmacy introduces Rx text alerts

CVS/pharmacy has introduced a program that allows pharmacy patients to receive immediate notification via text message when their prescription is ready to be picked up, the drugstore chain said.

Woonsocket, R.I. -- CVS/pharmacy has introduced a program that allows pharmacy patients to receive immediate notification via text message when their prescription is ready to be picked up, the drugstore chain said.

Order Ready Text Messaging, which is available on nearly all mobile carriers, offers text alerts in English and Spanish. Customers interested in enrolling into Order Ready Text Messaging can do so by speaking to a pharmacy staff member or visiting CVS.com/text. Standard message rates apply.

January 19, 2012
Walgreens unveils newly renovated stores in Indianapolis

Walgreens has transformed 68 locations in the Indianapolis market into health and daily living destinations.

Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens has transformed 68 locations in the Indianapolis market into health and daily living destinations.

The drug store chain hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday at a store located on 16th and Meridian in Indianapolis. On hand at the ceremony were Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson, former Indianpolis Colts coach Tony Dungy and Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.

The stores are part of Walgreens' pilot program that launched last year in Chicago.

July 28, 2011
Walgreens settles prescription billing lawsuit in Connecticut

The State Attorney’s office in Connecticut said Thursday that Walgreen Co. has settled a civil lawsuit with state and federal officials who accused the retailer of double-billing the government for prescription drugs.

Hartford, Conn. -- The State Attorney’s office in Connecticut said Thursday that Walgreen Co. has settled a civil lawsuit with state and federal officials who accused the retailer of double-billing the government for prescription drugs.

Walgreen has reimbursed the government for billing errors made between June 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2008, and admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.
 

March 9, 2011
Walgreens selling pharmacy benefits management unit for $525 million

Walgreen Co. said Wednesday it is leaving the pharmacy benefits management business, selling its Walgreens Health Initiatives operation to Catalyst Health Solutions Inc. for $525 million in cash.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said Wednesday it is leaving the pharmacy benefits management business, selling its Walgreens Health Initiatives operation to Catalyst Health Solutions Inc. for $525 million in cash. The deal will leave Walgreens free to focus on its drug store network, which is the largest in the United States.

Walgreens’ pharmacy benefits management business has never approached the size of Caremark, the pharmacy benefits management business of CVS Caremark Corp.,

February 16, 2011
Battle to end North Dakota’s restrictions on pharmacy ownership continues

Months after a voter initiative to abolish North Dakota's strict restrictions on pharmacy ownership foundered, the long-running debate resumed Tuesday in the state’s legislature, the Associated Press reported.

New York City -- Months after a voter initiative to abolish North Dakota's strict restrictions on pharmacy ownership foundered, the long-running debate resumed Tuesday in the state’s legislature, the Associated Press reported.

North Dakota is the only state in the nation that requires pharmacists to have majority ownership of most pharmacies. The law prevents major retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores, from operating pharmacies in their own stores.

January 27, 2011
Rite Aid's same-store sales get a boost

Rite Aid on Thursday morning posted a same-store sales increase of 1.1% for the four weeks ended Jan. 22, including a 2.2% lift across the front-end and growth of 0.6% in pharmacy comparable sales.

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday morning posted a same-store sales increase of 1.1% for the four weeks ended Jan. 22, including a 2.2% lift across the front-end and growth of 0.6% in pharmacy comparable sales.

Prescription count at comparable stores was flat compared with the prior-year period.

Total drug store sales were $1.9 billion, which is flat as compared with the same period last year. Prescription revenue accounted for 69.1% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription revenue represented 93.3% of pharmacy sales.

January 11, 2011
Navarro Discount Pharmacies broadens reach

Navarro Discount Pharmacies has signed a lease for a new 14,000-sq.-ft. store in North Miami, Fla.

Miami -- Navarro Discount Pharmacies has signed a lease for a new 14,000-sq.-ft. store in North Miami, Fla. With a store opening planned for the summer, North Miami will be the company's 29th store location and its first new store opening since the airport location opened in 2007.

December 7, 2010
Cardinal Health renews deal with Walgreens

Pharmaceuticals distributor Cardinal Health said Tuesday it renewed a deal to provide drugs to Walgreens’ pharmacies through 2013.

Dublin, Ohio -- Pharmaceuticals distributor Cardinal Health said Tuesday it renewed a deal to provide drugs to Walgreens’ pharmacies through 2013.

Cardinal Health did not disclose terms of its agreement with the chain. The companies renewed their deal early, as their last contract was signed in early 2008 and was set to last for three years.

September 30, 2010
Walgreen launches medication disposal program

Walgreen Co. said Thursday it will begin selling special envelopes to shoppers to help them...

August 29, 2010
Massachusetts attorney general settles with CVS on prescription drug pricing

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said Monday that the state has reached an agreement with...

August 5, 2010
Walgreens debuts live pharmacy chat

Walgreen Co. said Friday it has unveiled a live pharmacy chat feature on its website...

June 17, 2010
Walgreen and CVS settle dispute

Walgreen Co. and CVS Caremark Corp. announced Friday that they have settled a contract dispute...

January 12, 2010
Walgreens to acquire Rx business from Snyder’s Drug in Minnesota

Walgreens has agreed to acquire the pharmacy business and certain other assets of 25 company-owned...

January 6, 2010
CVS switches to e-prescribing tool

CVS Caremark Corp. plans to partner with electronic health-records maker Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, and begin...

October 21, 2009
CVS launches interactive Web and mobile features

CVS/pharmacy announced it has added innovative new features to CVS.com to enhance the user experience...

January 19, 2009
Pharmaceutical Distributor Bids for Canadian Drug Store Chain

North American pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp. said Monday it has offered to buy Montreal-based drug...

November 12, 2008
Rite Aid Expands Generics Via Rx Savings Card

Rite Aid expanded the list of generic medications available through its free Rx Savings Card...

September 7, 2008
Marc's Offers $3.99 Generic Drugs

Pharmacy chain Marc’s is pricing its generic-drug promotion at $3.99, a penny less than the...

July 16, 2008
Report: Supermarket Pharmacy Business in Good Shape

The supermarket pharmacy business is healthy and growing in both services and tie-in opportunities, according...

June 30, 2008
Kmart Pharmacies Lower Prices

Joining the price wars on generic-prescription drugs, Kmart lowered its prices and expanded the generic...

June 29, 2008
Kmart Expands Generic Drug Program

Kmart said on Monday it has cut prices and expanded its generic prescription drug program...