In this Issue

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Even the most savvy sunscreen user can forget to reapply sunscreen when having fun in the sun. However, remembering to reapply is even easier with the licensed sunscreen bands from JADS International. JADS partnered with Marvel, Lifeguard, Alloy Entertainment and Save the Ta-tas to design fashionable bands that appeal to kids and adults alike. Sunscreen Bands’ patented color-changing technology detects the level of UVA and UVB rays based onthe SPF level of an individual's sunscreen.

Many of the larger probiotic brands are experiencing significant growth. i-Health’s Culturelle generated $61.6 million in sales on a growth rate of 44.5% for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 11, according to IRI data across U.S. multi-outlets. And sales of Bayer’s Phillips Colon Health were up 18.5% to $58.7 million.

The health and pharmacy marketplace is undergoing rapid and fundamental transformation. To navigate profitably in tomorrow’s complex and shifting healthcare system, the pharmacy benefit management industry — along with the pharmacies and health plan payers allied with PBMs — are going to have to change and adapt as well.

By now you probably have heard about "Walgreens University," the internal education center the company opened last month, complete with technology-enhanced classrooms, a mock drug store and video-conferencing capabilities for employee educational programs.

Competing in the new age of retail, where bricks, clicks and anything in between compete for a larger share of the omnichannel customer, will require new skill sets and a generally better-educated workforce. The winners will create a more personalized shopping experience that leverages the expertise in their stores.

It has been just over a year since Frank Scorpiniti took the helm at Canada's Rexall Pharma Plus. And, as the Canadian retail market continues to heat up, the company has officially taken the lid off a reinvention of its business, from its stores and its brand, to the products and services in its stores.

While the Food and Drug Administration released draft guidance on regulations for biosimilars in February 2012, the final regulations have yet to appear. But already, everyone from analysts to trade groups to drug makers is preparing for a time when knock-off versions of biotech drugs will become available.

A new report sheds light on some of the opportunities and challenges that exist in follow-on biologics, arguing that their opportunity to generate value depends on factors like the speed of development, clarity of regulation, ease of access and the roles of all stakeholders.

Smart device usage has become an active part of in-store shopping. According to a recent poll of Accent-Health smart device owners, nearly 3-out-of-5 have used their phone or tablet to aid in product selection while shopping in-store. However, consumers are more likely to research their next TV on their mobile device than their prescription medication. According to AccentHealth VP market research, Natalie Hill, "When it comes to medical treatment, healthcare professionals remain the most trusted source for information.