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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark was awarded the 2014 Rx Benefit Innovation Award by the Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute on Tuesday, the company reported. The award recognizes the company's new Specialty Connect program, which was developed by CVS Caremark to improve access, quality of care and convenience for specialty pharmacy patients.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers, CVS Caremark announced on Wednesday that it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores across the United States by Oct. 1, making CVS/pharmacy the first national pharmacy chain to take this step. It also will undertake a robust national smoking-cessation program that will launch in the spring.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and Walgreens on Wednesday teamed up to launch Sponsorship to Quit, a free online quit-smoking program that smokers can personalize with customized tools and tips during their journey to quit. 

MINNEAPOLIS — John Mulligan, EVP and CFO of Target, said the retailer is deeply sorry for its late 2013 data security breach and is aware that consumer confidence in the company is shaken; his comments came during a Feb. 4 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

According to Reuters, Mulligan also said that Target discovered 25 registers infected with malware on Dec. 18, contradicting an earlier statement from the retailer that all malware had been removed by Dec. 15.

CHICAGO — Higi on Tuesday announced an agreement with Rite Aid to become the sole provider of health stations in stores nationwide. The company will deploy approximately 4,100 higi Stations across the United States beginning in the second quarter of 2014 and projects completion of the rollout by early 2015. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday posted January sales of $6.4 billion, an increase of 3.7% compared with the year-ago period.

Total front-end sales increased 2.4% compared with the same month in fiscal 2013, while comparable store front-end sales increased 1.6%. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 2.2% while basket size increased 3.8%.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark will participate in the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7, by encouraging colleagues at 7,600 CVS/pharmacy locations nationwide to wear red and create awareness of the battle against heart disease in women.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In support of American Heart Month, Walgreens is offering free blood-pressure testing at all of its pharmacies and Healthcare Clinics throughout the month of February, the retailer announced Monday.