HEALTH

Giant Food partners with higi on diabetes prevention program
LANDOVER, Md. — Ahold's Giant Food on Monday announced the deployment of a National Diabetes Prevention Program, PreventT2, utilizing in-store nutritionists as lifestyle coaches to help prevent type 2 diabetes diagnoses across the patients they serve. Groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as eating better, losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active and managing stress, the grocer noted.
ITC declines to take up Amarin case asking to prohibit importation of fish oils
WASHINGTON — One pharma company's attempt to shut down the import and use of fish oils in dietary supplements was halted earlier this week when the U.S. International Trade Commission declined to pursue the matter further.

Aimed at protecting its proprietary Vascepa (icosapent ethyl), Amarin filed an action with the ITC seeking a ban on the importation of omega-3 dietary supplements that are mainly comprised of the ester form of omega-3 called EPA.

10 Truths of OTC No. 5: The customer journey is in continual flux

Truth 5: The customer journey is in continual flux

How consumers buy healthcare products is ever more complicated, with on- and offline channels proliferating. Traditional OTC thinking envisages consumers making purchase decisions at physical points of sale, but this reality is eroding.
Supplement use is at an all-time high, CRN says

WASHINGTON — The latest results from an annual survey on dietary supplements revealed an all-time high for supplement usage among U.S. adults, with 76% reporting they consumed dietary supplements, up five percentage points from last year’s results.
EZC Pak's immunity support pack gains distribution through Cardinal Health

LOS ANGELES — EZC Pak earlier this week announced distribution of its immune support pack that targets the overuse of antibiotics in colds and flu through Cardinal Health. The agreement supports EZC Pak's expansion into pharmacies and health systems, the company stated.

EZC Pak is an OTC immune support supplement formulated with certified organic ingredients including echinacea, zinc and vitamin C.
Retractable Technologies, Smart Meter win DSN/ECRM Buyers Choice Awards

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Retractable Technologies earlier this month won the Drug Store News/ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its VanishPoint syringes, blood collection products, and IV catheters during the recent ECRM Diabetes/Clinical Programs, Chronic Care Management & Adherence Solutions EPPS, held here.

The finalist was Smart Meter for its iGlucose Diabetes Solution.
PLx Pharma supports Aspertec product with two key executive appointments

HOUSTON — PLx Pharma recently named Tom Long VP manufacturing and technical operations, where he will oversee ongoing manufacturing efforts for Aspertec. In addition, PLx Pharma appointed Steven Valentino as VP trade sales, effective Oct. 1. He will be responsible for building retail trade accounts, developing retailer and wholesaler relationships for PLx and securing distribution and merchandising support.
DSNTV: EZC Pak brings immune support from doctor's office to OTC space

Los Angeles-based EZC Pak has helped physicians reduce the number of antibiotics prescribed during initial visits, and is setting its sights on the consumer health market.
GSK ready to kick the tires of any Pfizer OTC divestiture

LONDON — If Pfizer follows through with its announcement last week to potentially place its consumer business up for sale, GlaxoSmithKline, presently the third-largest OTC seller in the U.S. marketplace, would certainly take a look at it, the company's CEO shared Wednesday morning.
OneTouch research finds combination of BGM, diabetes app most effective

CHESTERBROOK, Pa. — New research published in two leading diabetes journals demonstrated accuracy and reliability of the OneTouch Verio Flex blood glucose monitoring system, and when the system was used with the OneTouch Reveal mobile app, it was associated with significant improvements in glycemic control.

In a study just published in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, leading experts in self-monitoring of blood glucose found that the "new system showed a high level of measurement accuracy."