Diabetes

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of an authorized generic version of a drug used to lower blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Regulators have approved a new blood-glucose monitoring system made by Bayer HealthCare, the company said.

Bayer announced the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Contour Next EZ, which includes a meter and test strip sensors that the company said would improve accuracy.

Bayer said the system is being introduced on a market-by-market basis and will be available in the United States this summer.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Once the season starts, nobody really remembers the number of stolen bases nabbed by Gregor Blanco (13) or the number of batters who could neither put a Francisco Liriano pitch into play nor tease out a walk (33). But ask the fans how many balls their favorite player knocked out of the park through spring training, chances are they'll be able to tell you.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson is challenging the patent protection on a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes.

Watson said Thursday that it had filed with the Food and Drug Administration for approval of a generic version of Depomed's Glumetza (metformin hydrochloride extended-release tablets) in the 1,000-mg strength.

INDIANAPOLIS — Lilly Diabetes and Walgreens on Monday launched an awareness campaign at 43 Walgreens pharmacies throughout the Indianapolis area on the consequences of hypoglycemia.

ST. LOUIS — Fresh off the heels of its merger with Medco Health Solutions, pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts announced Monday the launch of a medication nonadherence detection system and offered a preview of its annual "Drug Trend Report."

A lot of retailers offer screenings for everything from diabetes to allergies, but what sets Sam’s Club apart is the scale on which it delivers them. The club retailer offers screenings for everything from heart health and women’s health to diabetes. In a recent interview with Drug Store News, director of business development for health and wellness Angie Muldoon said that the company had conducted more than 1 million screenings in 2011.


One of the highlights for Rite Aid’s business has been Wellness+, its loyalty card program that has played a major role in driving growth in the company’s comps, as well as attracting new and more loyal customers.