HEALTH

CHICAGO — The first study to report the effects vitamin D has on the immune system of people with lupus was unveiled Saturday at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting here.

The small sample study determined that vitamin D supplementation helped improve cell level counts associated with the disease.

NEW YORK — Sweet'N Low and Olympic athlete Dominique Dawes have joined forces to address the growing diabetes epidemic in honor of National Diabetes Month.

October sure was a busy month for news in the drug channel. It began in earnest on Oct. 1, the day CVS’ new president officially began his new job. Before the month was over, CVS’ chief merchant left to become president of Family Dollar, and his responsibilities would be carved up between three key executives.

INDIANAPOLIS — Marsh Supermarkets is offering a new program for patients with diabetes, according to the Indianapolis-based chain's website.

Under Marsh's Diabetes Care program, patients who bring a new prescription to a Marsh supermarket pharmacy or transfer an existing one will receive up to a 30-day supply of qualifying generic diabetes medications for free, as well as free universal lancets.

The medications include glipizide, metformin, glimepiride and glyburide. The program is available through the end of May 2012.

The personal massager category still is small at only $3.2 million for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 4, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), but the growth rate is trending at a 20.6% clip.


Mini collectibles and collectible trading cards are hot segments in the toy market. They are “on point with what kids want, aren’t expensive and keep kids coming back,” according to Adrienne Appell, a representative for the Toy Industry Association.


WESTON, Fla. — American Scientific Resources has received a private-label purchase order for a Shoppers Drug Mart VeraTemp noncontact thermometer.

The initial order for 5,000 units will supply VeraTemp to Shoppers Drug Mart’s chain of almost 1,200 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores across Canada.

The diabetes patient has long been identified as a coveted higher-trip, higher-
market-basket opportunity 
for pharmacy operators. And now Rite Aid has created a loyalty card 
program specifically for that diabetes patient.