HEALTH

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - CVS Pharmacy on Tuesday unveiled plans to improve its convenient food offerings with healthier foods and beverages across more than 2,900 locations, up from an inititial 500 pilot stores announced last year. Throughout the year, 100 stores each week are being enhanced with a carefully curated selection of national and niche better-for-you brands that make healthier eating on-the-go, convenient and affordable.

NEW YORK - More than eight in 10 affluent Americans are interested in health and wellness products and services, with 54% interested in "luxury" health and wellness offerings, according to a recent report released by Robb Report. The proportion was even higher (66%) among the "Wealthy" demographic (annual household income above $500,000).

NEW YORK - David Paragamian has been named managing director for Razorfish Health, a division of Publicis Health. In his new role, effective immediately, Paragamian will be responsible for overseeing Razorfish Health businesses across North America, including offices in New York and Philadelphia.

Paragamian will report to Matt McNally, group president, Publicis Health.

DUBLIN  - Perrigo on Monday announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. vitamins, minerals and supplements business to International Vitamin Corporation.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by early August.

PHILADELPHIA - The availability of influenza vaccinations at the neighborhood pharmacy has boosted vaccination rates among millennials, according to research recently published in the American Journal of Public Health.

The authors found that increased adoption rates followed states allowing pharmacists to administer the vaccine.

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - Optimum Nutrition on Friday announced the newest addition to its Gold Standard line of sports nutrition products – Gold Standard BCAA. Each serving of the powder contains five grams of BCAAs to help kick-start protein synthesis, along with a blend of electrolytes, rhodiola and Wellmune, to support intense workouts.

"With each product added to the Gold Standard line, Optimum Nutrition sets a new bar for performance sports nutrition," stated Saverio Spontella, director of North America marketing for Optimum Nutrition.

BOSTON - To help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about aspirin use, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new, free, mobile app, "Aspirin-Guide" that calculates both the cardiovascular disease risk score and the bleeding risk score for an individual patient, and helps clinicians decide which patients are appropriate candidates for the use of low-dose aspirin (75 to 81 mg daily).

WASHINGTON— The Consumer Healthcare Products Association on Monday commended Delaware Gov. Jack Markell for signing into law a bill prohibiting the sale of OTC medicines containing the cough suppressant dextromethorphan to minors.

Delaware becomes the 12th state to pass a law addressing the issue of cough medicine abuse among teens, CHPA noted.