In this Issue

Diabetic consumers spend 35% more on OTC products
Today’s diabetes patients represent a coveted consumer base for retail pharmacy no matter how you characterize that diabetes spend. For example, consumers with diabetes spend 35% more on OTC products than the average consumer, noted Jeff Gregori, group VP consumer and shopper analytics for Nielsen, during a presentation at the 2016 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo.
Healthy juice drinks drive dollar growth
While price, taste and convenience continue to be key influencers of food-shopping behavior, U.S. consumers are increasingly prioritizing health and wellness in their decision-making, and this is especially true when it comes to beverages.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

Best of both worlds: ADA pairs its database to the computing power of IBM Watson Health

What do you get when you pair the world’s largest database on diabetes metrics with a big data super computer that will mine, analyze and optimize that data?

(To view the full Diabetes Report, click here.)
Anheuser-Busch brews bold cherry cola

ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch recently launched Best Damn Cherry Cola, the second national offering from Best Damn Brewing Co. According to the company, Best Damn Cherry Cola is aged on whole cherries after brewing for a harder take on the timeless taste of cherry cola. “Best Damn Cherry Cola continues to build our portfolio of bold, approachable and down-to-earth beers,” said Rash-mi Patel, VP share of throat, Anheuser-Busch.
Apps help Type 2 patients self-manage disease

Cardiff University in October found that smartphone apps could offer patients with Type 2 diabetes a highly effective method of self-managing their condition.

(To view the full Diabetes Report, click here.)
Walmart, Corrective Education partner to reduce shrink, help offenders

There aren’t many good-news stories when it comes to loss prevention.
Specialty Focused: DSN interviews Walgreens specialty pharmacy group VP

The significant role that specialty pharmacies play in specialty care — from ensuring patients have access to their specific disease state treatment to delivering necessary training and other services around their medication — is something Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy knows well.
Despite 2015 slowdown, specialty continues to grow share of health spend

For the year ended May 2016, specialty medicines made up 36% of all drug spend, according to IMS Health data. And for the year-to-date as of May, specialty spending growth was at 23% — outpacing the 7.8% YTD spending growth that traditional medicines saw in the same time period.
Migraine may be next switch

The next big Rx-to-OTC switch opportunity in 2017 could be migraine treatments.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

“They did switch Imitrex [in Europe],” Laura Mahecha, industry manager healthcare for Kline Group, said, citing concerns of “potential cardiovascular side effects.” Mahecha called the potential of a 2017 migraine switch “low to moderate.”
Hispanic healthcare journey

Winning with U.S. Hispanics is the solution to accelerating sales growth. Univision partnered with Nielsen to study the Hispanic Healthcare Journey and uncover differences and similarities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic attitudes and behaviors. This new, groundbreaking research explores how patients manage their path to treatment and follows consumers’ path to purchase for the total OTC market and the key categories of pain, vitamins, cough-cold, and allergy remedies.