Electronic medication histories assist in Katrina relief efforts
A new health care initiative is making electronic medication histories available for the first time to health care providers treating Hurricane Katrina evacuees across the country. KatrinaHealth is a secure electronic database of health information created through collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), community pharmacies, healthcare providers, and private companies SureScripts, Gold Standard, and the Markle Foundation...
NACDS

Report: Holiday sales to grow 5 percent
On the heels of the strongest holiday season in five years, retailers can expect moderate holiday sales growth this year. According to the National Retail Federation, total holiday retail sales are expected to increase 5 percent over last year, bringing holiday spending to $435.3 billion...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd) | USA Today

Additional News:

• Wal-Mart moving into Hungary Retail Merchandiser
• Rite Aid has Q2 loss on costs; Sales unchanged Bloomberg
• Wegmans' planned Baltimore store could be biggest yet Progressive Grocer
• Safeway's Portland division president to retire Drug Store News (Sub Req'd)

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Pharma rides the 'new combinations' wave
The pharmaceutical industry has experienced a recent surge in the development of new combination therapies. This lifecycle management tactic is an effective way to offset declines in market share of particular products, notes a recent report that indicates that global investments for new combinations average $65 million...
Yahoo/PRNewswire

Expert: Vioxx can double heart attack risk
Testifying on behalf of a postal worker suing Merck, University of Washington biostatistician Richard Kronmal said patients who took the now-withdrawn painkiller in company-sponsored tests suffered serious side effects to blood vessels almost immediately. "It clearly is a drug that has severe effects on the vascular system," Kronmal said...
Yahoo/AP

Additional News:

• Move to reinstate MS drug Wilmington Star-News
• Pfizer's Lyrica now available for patients Yahoo/PRNewswire
• DEA disables major pharmaceutical Internet scheme DEA.gov
• Lawmakers spar over Medicare drug coverage ABC News

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B-vitamin boost in fight against mental decline
Eating foods rich in B-vitamins and folate, such as green, leafy vegetables, could help prevent against age-related mental decline according to a study published this month...
NutraIngredients

Raising HDL – A new challenge for functional foods?
Too much emphasis is placed on lowering LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol and not enough on raising levels of HDL ‘good’ cholesterol, say cardiology experts-–a view that may mean functional food makers are missing out on marketing opportunities too...
NutraIngredients

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Elizabeth Arden, Danielle Steel pen deal
Cosmetics company Elizabeth Arden Inc. said Thursday the company signed a licensing agreement with novelist Danielle Steel to develop and market her own line of fragrance products. Elizabeth Arden said the author would be personally involved in all aspects of product development and that the line will debut nationwide in the fall of 2006...
Yahoo/AP

Coty Rimmel pleased with Kate Moss' recent personal statement
Coty Beauty, which manages the Rimmel brand, is pleased to acknowledge the statement released by Kate Moss apologizing for her recent actions with cocaine use. In light of this statement, and Kate's determination to address these issues, Coty Beauty is currently reviewing its relationship with her and will continue to do so...
PRNewswire

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Tate & Lyle traces sucralose sold in Wal-Mart to own plant
Tate and Lyle has traced the source of sucralose sold in Wal-Mart under a rival brand name to its own manufacturing plant in Alabama, according to the Financial Times. It is now investigating which of its customers had supplied Wal-Mart with the sweetener and said it would have “no hesitation,” in stopping supplying them...
Just Food

General Mills' sales, profits rise
General Mills Inc. said its Q1 sales rose to $2.66 billion from $2.59 billion a year ago. The Minneapolis company reported a profit of $252 million, up from $183 million during the same period last year...
Retail Merchandiser

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Sony to cut people, facilities, businesses
Sony Corp. announced plans to cut about 10,000 jobs, close 11 plants and shrink or terminate 15 unprofitable operations in order to turn around its electronics business. The moves are projected to save $1.8 billion by March of 2008...
Retail Merchandiser

Liz Claiborne Home expands into decorative gifts
Liz Claiborne Inc. has partnered with Shonfeld's USA to design and manufacture decorative gift products under the Liz Claiborne Home and Villager brand names. The lines will include home care and cleaning products, scented candles and home fragrance, bath and spa items and a baby bath line...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd)

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Overweight, obese could swell 50 percent in a decade
The number of overweight and obese people worldwide is set to increase by half over the next ten years, heightening their health risks, the World Health Organization said. Around one billion people are currently affected worldwide, and the figure is set to rise to 1.5 billion by 2015 if current trends continue...
TODAYonline

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