In this Issue

Shaving trends among men — or rather the lack thereof — has shaken up the razor segment a bit as more men are opting to sport facial hair, but manufacturers remain optimistic as they churn out new innovations and see a decline of “loaded pantries” on the horizon.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

With a history that goes back more than 100 years, Softsheen-Carson’s Magic Shave has become a legacy brand within the African-American male grooming segment. To learn more about the brand’s history and its new Bump Rescue Skincare line, Drug Store News recently talked with Mezei Jefferson, director of education for Softsheen-Carson.

DSN: After more than 100 years, Magic Shave was reformulated and revamped with a new look. Can you elaborate?

Prevention. That’s currently one of the predominant themes in cough-cold. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times. With the economy still undergoing a slow recovery, 90% of workers recently reported they would opt to report to work sick vs. calling out, according to the fourth annual Flu Season Survey from Staples.

Is the smell of money in the air for the fragrance market? Perhaps.

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)

“No one gets paid unless patients improve adherence.”

That’s what Aaron McKethan, SVP of strategy and business development for RxAnte, had to say in a Jan. 13 article on Forbes.com, “A digital health acquisition to watch.” The story focused largely on RxAnte’s recent acquisition by Millennium Laboratories in December — which the author described as a “little-known, private equity-backed urine drug testing company” — and the technology it uses to improve patient adherence.

From 2012 to 2017, global spending on medicines will increase from $205 billion to $235 billion, according to IMS Health. By 2017, 36% of the spend will be on generics, a number that is 9% more than the percentage in 2013.

As a result of the patent cliff, generic drug manufacturers have thrived while branded pharmaceutical manufacturers have suffered. Branded pharmaceutical manufacturers are expected to suffer even more in the coming years, as many more important patents will lose exclusivity.

The federal agency in charge of Medicare is pushing for a major overhaul of its Medicare Part D drug benefit program for seniors. Those changes, if adopted, could help level the competitive playing field for pharmacy retailers in Part D plan networks, reduce competitive advantages for preferred pharmacy networks and mail-order pharmacies, and put a tighter squeeze on pharmacy benefit managers.

Thus, the proposals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the 2015 federal fiscal year could spell big changes for retail pharmacies. Among the most far-reaching are: