Due to the holidays, Industry News @-a-Glance will not be published on Friday, December 24. Please stay tuned for our next issue on Monday, December 27. Happy Holidays everyone!

NRF: Retailers can expect big week
The latest NRF 2004 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey shows that the average U.S. consumer had completed 81.9% of their holiday by Sunday, December 19, having spent an average of $511.77 on the holidays this year. Tracy Mullin, president and ceo of the NRF said: "Retailers know that the holiday season is far from over. With Christmas falling at the end of the week and many offices closed on Christmas Eve, consumers have extra incentive to procrastinate this year."
Retail Merchandiser

Will 2005 see more mergers for retailers?
After several sleepy years on the acquisition front, merger activity picked up dramatically this year. The reason: in the face of sluggish overall growth in retail sales, companies realize they need to gobble up others to achieve the kind of expansion that will make them more competitive. "There are just too many companies with weak messages and they have to get the messages stronger, and they have to be able to compete with the good guys to buy better and sell better," said C. Britt Beemer, chairman of America's Research Group...
Yahoo/AP

Additional News:

• Wal-Mart unveils cut-price laptop under 500 dollars Yahoo/AFP
• Hispanic distributor eyes North Texas to open club stores Progressive Grocer
• Dollar Tree Stores opens new DC Retail Merchandiser

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Centocor gets new Remicade FDA OK
Centocor Inc., a unit of health-care product giant Johnson & Johnson, reported Monday that the FDA approved its arthritis drug Remicade for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, a form of spinal arthritis. In a recent clinical trial, Centocor said that 22 percent of ankylosing spondylitis patients taking Remicade had minimal disease activity after 24 weeks versus the 1 percent of patients in the placebo group...
Yahoo/AP

Doctors warn of overreaction to naproxen finding
Doctors urged consumers yesterday not to overreact to the potential heart risks of naproxen, saying they are skeptical about research findings publicized by the National Institutes of Health on Monday that linked the drug to a 50 percent increase in heart attacks and strokes. Another recent study found a slightly increased risk of serious heart problems in people who took naproxen or similar painkillers. But prior to these two studies, many others had shown that naproxen either had no effect on the heart or protected against heart attacks, although not nearly as well as aspirin...
The Boston Globe

Additional News:

• Drug industry weathers horrid year Yahoo/AP
• Canada to approve UK cannabis drug CNN International
• UK's CAT leaps on drug royalty victory vs Abbott Reuters
• Companies to develop all-in-one HIV pill Washington Times

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Europe's herbals on the up again
Europe’s herbals market is set to regain some of its momentum over the next year, with strong sales in supermarkets and non-pharmacy channels demonstrating that consumers are regaining confidence in natural products. Dr Joerg Gruenwald, president of herbal medicines consultancy Phytopharm Consulting, says that there is “a clear trend for herbal medicines out of pharmacies and into other channels, often cheaper ones like supermarkets, mail order and multi-level marketing.”
NutraIngredients

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Newell Rubbermaid taps Gillette, former P&G execs to board
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. announced the expansion of its board to 12 directors with the appointments of Michael T. Cowhig, president global technical and manufacturing at Gillette, and Mark D. Ketchum, former president of global baby and family care at Procter & Gamble, to its board of directors. Cowhig, 57, joined Gillette in 1968 in an operational role. Ketchum, 55, joined P&G in 1971...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd) | Yahoo/PRNewswire

Dove announces new line of haircare products
Dove, which is manufactured by Unilever, is gearing up for 2005 with a string of new products designed to create hairstyles with natural feel and movement, reduce the signs of aging, and soothe and moisturize skin. The line includes five hairsprays, two mousses, two gels, a pomade, an anti-frizz cream and a straightening cream. The suggested retail price ranges from $3.50 to $3.79...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd)

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General Mills launches ‘Brand New You’ diet plan
General Mills is helping consumers lose weight, up to 10 pounds in 10 weeks, by eating everything from snack foods to specially designed recipes developed by dieticians at its Bell Institute of Health & Nutrition and Betty Crocker Kitchens. The company introduced a similar program to its employees last January that helped them lose a collective 2,990 pounds...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd) | NPR (Audio)

Welch’s launches new low-cal fruit juice
Welch's introduced its new, low-calorie line of single-serve fruit juice called Welch's Low Cal. The drink is sweetened with Splenda, and comes in four flavors: white grape raspberry, strawberry kiwi, apple cranberry and lemonade. Each 10-ounce serving has 15 calories and three grams of carbohydrates. Packaging includes multi-packs of six 10-ounce bottles for the grocery channel, and 16-ounce single-serve bottles for the convenience and drug store channels...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd) | PRNewswire

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American Greetings buys stake in entertainment and marketing company
American Greetings, best known for its greeting cards and brands such as Strawberry Shortcake and the Care Bears, has added another aspect to its business. The company announced Friday that it bought a large stake in the private, Los Angeles-based entertainment production and marketing company Hatchery LLC. The move is expected to strengthen its family and children's entertainment products...
Forbes

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HIPAA alters pharma rep strategy
As the number of pharma reps grows -- more than 85,000 pharma sales reps in the United States alone -- the fierce competition for physician face-time escalates. Industry experts predict that HIPAA guidelines could reduce physician access by as much as 25%, but those reps who proactively discuss HIPAA and demonstrate their personal desire to protect the privacy of patient's health records will prove their trustworthiness and thus strengthen doctor-rep relationships...
PharmaLive

HHS releases Rx importation report
The Department of Health and Human Services this week released a 145-page document regarding the importation of pharmaceuticals from abroad, noting that imported pharmaceuticals outside of the purview of the FDA are not generally safe. Surgeon General Richard Carmona framed the debate on a conference call with reporters, stating that the report is not meant to establish a policy direction, but rather to provide a comprehensive report on all the issues involved with importation...
Drug Store News (Sub Req'd) | PRNewswire

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