WALGREENS

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In collaboration with the National Minority AIDS Council, Walgreens is furthering its commitment to improve HIV treatment outcomes for African Americans living with HIV by deepening pharmacists’ training and expanding access to the pneumococcal vaccination specifically indicated for persons living with HIV as incidents of flu and pneumonia rise, the retailer announced Tuesday.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday announced it is extending through April 15 its program to provide medications to newly insured Americans enrolled under the Affordable Care Act, who have difficulty using their new insurance coverage because they haven't received a plan identification number yet from their insurer. Walgreens will continue to assist recently enrolled individuals by providing up to one month of a traditional, brand or generic medication at no upfront cost upon verification of eligibility.

WASHINGTON — Several retail pharmacy chains and associations are pledging their support of the Blue Button Initiative — a public-private partnership between the healthcare industry and the federal government that aims to empower all Americans with access to their own electronic health information, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy have

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, along with a coalition of healthcare industry stakeholders, on Wednesday issued a consensus statement regarding the collaborative steps that will be taken to help ensure the delivery of responsible and effective patient care as it relates to the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In response to CVS Caremark's announcement to pull tobacco products out of its stores, Walgreens stated that the category has been under review at its stores, too.

Walgreens has been evaluating its tobacco line for “some time,” and said it “will continue to evaluate the choice of products our customers want, while also helping to educate them and providing smoking cessation products and alternatives that help reduce the demand for tobacco products,” noted Michael Polzin, Walgreens spokesperson.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson on Thursday confirmed that it has completed the previously announced agreement with Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH to acquire their entire holding of Celesio shares. McKesson also confirmed it has completed the previously announced agreement with an affiliate of Elliott Management to acquire Celesio convertible bonds.  

McKesson now exceeds 75% ownership of Celesio shares on a fully diluted basis.

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. 

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%.