HEALTH

VEVEY, Switzerland — Nestlé on Tuesday named Luis Cantarell head of Nestlé Nutrition with the departure of Kurt Schmidt, deputy EVP Nestlé Nutrition, who has decided to leave the company for personal reasons effective Dec. 1. 

Cantarell will assume this role in addition to his current responsibilities as president and CEO of Nestlé Health Science. Between 2001 and 2005, he was in charge of Nestlé’s Nutrition Strategic Business Division.

ABBOTT PARK, Ill. — Abbott on Tuesday announced the launch of Ensure Complete in chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Ensure Complete shakes feature Abbott’s proprietary ingredient, Revigor, a source of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, an amino-acid metabolite, and 13 grams of protein to help protect, preserve and promote muscle health. Revigor, in combination with protein, can help rebuild muscle by helping to stabilize muscle cells and slow protein breakdown while promoting the production of new muscle tissue, the company stated. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday announced that this Friday Nov. 2 the chain will host its first Senior Discount Day. All senior citizens over the age of 55 will receive 15% off eligible store items and 20% off eligible Walgreens, W Brand and Nice! products. 

Participants who simply reference the discount and present a valid ID, will receive the discount at any Walgreens and Duane Reade drugstore nationwide. 

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Watson Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced the sale of its Rugby over-the-counter business to the Harvard Drug Group — a distributor and provider of private-label OTCs and generic prescription products under the Major Pharmaceuticals brand — for approximately $117 million.  

"I am confident that Major, with its leadership position as a marketer of OTC products, will be more strategically positioned to maximize the value of the long-known and respected Rugby name," stated Paul Bisaro, president and CEO of Watson.

NORTH LIMA, Ohio — Perfecta Products on Wednesday announced expansion of its Zim's Maximum Heat external analgesic.

Maximum Heat is indicated for the temporary relief of muscle, back, shoulder and neck pain. It is the sister product of Perfecta's Zim's Max-Freeze. Zim's Maximum Heat is formulated with aloe, arnica, vitamin E and tea tree oil.

Both the 2.5-oz. Zim's Maximum Heat Roll-On and 3.5-oz. tube of Zim's Maximum Heat retail for a suggested $10.49.

LOS ANGELES – Energy-X, a division of Pacific Shore Holdings, has introduced The Juice — the first neutral-tasting energy supplement mixer that consumers can add to juice, sports drinks, water and more.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — Bayer HealthCare on Tuesday signed a merger agreement to acquire Schiff Nutrition International, and with that, prominent supplement brands Digestive Advantage, MegaRed, Move Free and Airborne. These four products accounted for 70% of all Schiff sales, noted Marijn Dekkers, Bayer CEO, during an analyst call Wednesday morning. "This acquisition will strengthen Bayer's leading OTC business and complement our existing nutritionals business with well-established strong brands," he said. 

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — ProPhase Labs on Monday again rejected an acquisition proposal from Matrixx Initiatives. Matrixx's latest offer was to acquire ProPhase for $1.60 per share in cash, up from a prior $1.40 per share proposal.