HEALTH

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."
FDA approves new Bydureon formulation, auto-injector
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved an auto-injector and new formulation of a once-weekly treatment for Type 2 diabetes from AstraZeneca. Bydureon BCise offers a single-dose auto-injector for adults with Type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar is uncontrolled on one or more oral medicines.

10 Truths of OTC No. 4: It's about prevention and wellness, not category and cure

Truth 4: Everyone cares about prevention and wellness, not category and cure

Several hard realities have resulted in a mindset shift away from perceptions of medicine as a reactive cure doled out by healthcare practitioners, and towards people taking an active role in preventing illness via changed behaviors and products.
Bayer makes 2 consumer health appointments

WHIPPANY, N.J. — Bayer’s consumer health business has two new executives. The company this week named Brenda Raphael SVP and general manager of its therapeutics business unit within the North American consumer health division, and named Jennifer Brendel VP and head of U.S. consumer health communications
Vitamin Shoppe adds RangeMe to its merchandising efforts

SEACAUCUS, N.J. — ECRM’s RangeMe online CPG platform has a new client. The Vitamin Shoppe has added the platform to its merchandise innovation and sourcing process, allowing its category managers to discover new products and brands that meet customers’ needs while fostering vendor relationships.
Health Mart showcases independent pharmacy solutions at NCPA convention

ORLANDO, Fla. — Health Mart showcased a number of ideas and solutions to help independent pharmacists improve their clinical, operational and financial performance during the National Community Pharmacists Association Annual Convention held here earlier this week.
RiteAid.com now accepts Apple Pay

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced Thursday that it is now accepting Apple Pay for purchases made on the company's e-commerce site, making Rite Aid the first pharmacy retailer to accept Apple Pay as a form of payment online.
Virtual roundtable: Leveraging data to fuel innovation

In the weeks following the Health Innovation Summit, hosted in June by Drug Store News and Mack Elevation in partnership with CVS Health, DSN assembled a virtual panel of suppliers and marketers to discuss the future of health and wellness, how best to address and appeal to the changing needs of today’s younger consumers, driving innovation and more. Find out why these leading health-and-wellness supplier executives and brand marketers are focusing their efforts on digital and social media.
Crossmark inks preferred service provider agreement with Walmart

PLANO, Texas — As Walmart looks to centralize its merchandising activity planning process and establish standard operating procedures for in-store service providers, it has named sales and marketing company Crossmark as one of its preferred service providers. With the selection, Crossmark is one of five companies that can execute merchandising activity on behalf of suppliers in nearly 5,000 U.S. Walmart locations.
National digestive brands see mixed sales results

The upper gastrointestinal proton pump inhibitors segment saw a 9% decrease — national brands only — in sales in multi-outlets for the latest 12 months compared with the previous year, with losses primarily driven down by large decreases at Procter & Gamble’s Prilosec OTC (-13%) and for GSK Consumer Heathcare’s Prevacid (-15%).