News Briefs

AbbVie’s Allergan announced that one of its products is now available without a prescription.

Consumers can find Lastacaft, alcaftadine ophthalmic solution 0.25%, over the counter.

Lastacaft works to provide relief from itchy, allergy eyes lasting through 16 hours, the company said.

“Seasonal and year-round allergies affect millions of Americans, from young children to adults, and we are pleased that Lastacaft is now available without a prescription as a safe and effective option to relieve itchy eyes caused by allergies within minutes,” Jag Dosanjh, president of U.S. neuroscience and eye care at AbbVie said. “The Lastacaft over-the-counter switch exemplifies our commitment to providing quality eye care products and expands our retail eye drop portfolio, which also includes the leading Refresh family of products for relieving dry, irritated eyes.”

Available in a 5 ml multidose bottle that contains a 60-day supply, Lastacaft also comes in a twin pack for a 120-day supply, the company said.

No Cow, maker of plant-based, low-sugar protein bars and powders, is adding a chocolate-dipped protein bar to its lineup. The Denver-based brand, which launched in 2015, offers gluten-, soy- and dairy-free products that are Non-GMO Project Verified, kosher and vegan.

The new Dipped bars use a proprietary blend of rice and pea protein and feature flavors reminiscent of classic American candies. The six flavors are: chocolate sea salt, chocolate salted caramel, chocolate peanut butter cup, chocolate mint cookie, chocolate sprinkled donut and chocolate coconut almond, the last being the signature flavor of country music star and No Cow brand ambassador Jessie James Decker.

Each bar contains 20 g of plant protein, 3 g to 5 g net carbs and 1 g of sugar.

“Forget about just trying to be the best plant-based option, we truly believe that the new line of Dipped Protein Bars are quite simply the best protein bars on the market, period,” said CEO Eric Haddenhorst. “Early feedback from both consumers and retail partners after a soft launch of two flavors could not have been stronger. Consumers love the taste of these new bars — so many have told us they can’t believe they are plant-based. Of course, they still expect all of the low sugar, high protein, low carb benefits that they’ve come to expect from No Cow.”

The brand’s offerings, which include 19 flavors of protein bars and two flavors of protein powder, are supported by investors that include General Mills’ 301, Valor Equity Partners and Loft Partners.

The single flavor 12-count boxes of the Chocolate Dipped line have a $29.99 SRP.

IRI, a global technology leader in innovative solutions and services for consumer, retail and media companies, and Ulta Beauty are joining forces in a strategic, multiyear partnership aimed at bolstering Ulta Beauty's view of the total beauty market.

"At IRI, we are passionate about understanding and serving the needs of our clients. We couldn't be more excited to support Ulta Beauty in gaining a deeper view of the beauty market and identifying opportunities for innovation and advancement," said Wei Lin Wong, president of global retail and strategy at IRI. "Our personalized solutions will provide Ulta Beauty meaningful data and actionable, real-time insights to elevate their retail strategy."

As part of the partnership, Ulta Beauty will leverage IRI's suite of innovative solutions for e-commerce data, consumer insights and merchandising tools to support its go-to-market strategies.

IRI's solutions identify shoppers' online behavior, provide a 360-degree view of the e-commerce universe and help companies better understand exactly where to invest to drive growth online. Utilizing IRI's consumer and shopper insights solutions allows Ulta Beauty to better understand shopping behaviors, including guests' on-the-go and in-the-moment needs. IRI's innovative platform also enables the retailer to transform its merchandising processes by embedding data into decision-making with easy-to-consume, real-time insights.

"As a data-driven company, we believe in taking a holistic view of retail and consumer channels to unlock meaningful actions," said Jordan Pious, senior director of merchandising strategy and insights at Ulta Beauty. "We're excited to partner with IRI to enhance how we use data and analytics to inform our merchandising strategies and, most importantly, optimize our guests' experiences."

Purezero Clean Beauty, an independent hair care brand that offers clean ingredients and salon-quality performance at accessible prices, has a reason to celebrate its recent sustainable practices. The company is the first mass-market hair care brand to secure the Carbonfree Product Certification, a globally recognized carbon-neutral designation from Carbonfund.org Foundation. 

Since its creation in 2018, Purezero has prioritized sustainability as a core part of the brand, the company said. Understanding that the use of overseas manufacturing and supply chain operations produces significant carbon emissions, Purezero set out to innovate.

Purezero has hyper-localized its sourcing and production on the Atlantic Coast of Florida to manufacture, warehouse and fulfill products on-site. To earn Carbonfund’s Carbonfree Product certification, Purezero identified viable ways to decrease carbon impact, including a reduction in plastic usage. The partnership with Carbonfund.org allows Purezero to continue those efforts and offset remaining emissions in its footprint.

“The production of personal care and beauty products causes significant carbon emissions, which play a big role in the climate crisis. It’s time to do better by the planet, and we’re leading the way,” said Matt Kuhlman, co-founder, Purezero Clean Beauty. “Consumers have had to choose between professional performance, accessible pricing and clean ingredients — Purezero makes it possible for them to have it all. Now we’ve innovated to democratize clean, sustainable beauty, and this is just the beginning of our hair care revolution.”

“The beauty industry is in desperate need of a sustainable makeover, and working with Purezero on this long-term partnership brings hope for a brighter, more eco-friendly future,” said Eric Carlson, president of Carbonfund.org Foundation. “We’re excited to see a mass hair care brand like Purezero lead the way and set an example for others to follow suit.”

The Carbonfund.org Carbonfree seal will be featured on every Purezero product label in brick-and-mortar retailers nationwide, including Target, Whole Foods Market, Rite Aid, Kroger, Wegmans, Price Chopper, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Smith’s, Fry’s, Ralphs, QFC, Roundy’s, Dillons, Coburn’s, Market of Choice and more. Also available on Amazon, Purezero was recently inducted into Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly Program, which highlights brands that are committed to net-zero carbon across the business.

Purezero noted that it takes its commitment to clean beauty seriously and has banned over 120 harmful, commonly used ingredients from its products, including sulfates, parabens, phosphates, phthalates, dyes and gluten. All products, crafted with a proprietary surfactant product formula, are also PETA-certified cruelty free and vegan. Purezero offers 22 shampoo and conditioner SKUs.

Six community pharmacies have been named recipients of the 2022 NCPA Innovation Center Excellence Awards, sponsored by RedSail Technologies.

This is the fifth year of the NICE Awards competition, which was created to recognize pharmacies for their efforts to enhance their value, promote their services and better serve their communities.

“For the last five years the NICE Awards have showcased the best in community pharmacy branding and marketing — the innovations and redesigns that make promotions more effective and patients’ experiences more rewarding,” NCPA Innovation Center president Kurt Proctor said. “The aim of the NICE Awards is to spotlight what good pharmacy marketing looks like and what it accomplishes for a pharmacy business. We think it’s nice if others can learn and achieve success as a result of these community pharmacies, and applaud this year’s award recipients for their hard work and creativity.”

“Our goal at RedSail Technologies is to innovate and inspire. The NICE Awards represent independent pharmacies and their drive to grow and succeed by embracing change. We honor that drive here at RedSail, and hope to encourage continued innovation and passion in our customers and the communities they serve,” said Frances Nahas, chief strategy officer at RedSail Technologies.

The 2022 NICE Awards recipients by category are:

• Best Community Engagement – Phipps Pharmacy in Tennessee

• Best Exterior Sign – Spruce Mountain Pharmacy in Jay, Maine

• Best External Modification – Bell Pharmacy in Camden, N.J.

• Best Internal Modification – Avant Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Charlotte, N.C.

• Best Delivery Vehicle – Table Rock Pharmacy in Morganton, N.C.

• Best Marketing/Promotion – Tomahawk Pharmacy in Tomahawk, Wis.

Three independent judges reviewed this year’s submissions and selected the award recipients. Dave Wendland, who has 30 years’ experience with the Hamacher Resource Group, is responsible for strategic partner development and trade relations, and works to strengthen client relationships and enhance product value. Ira Katz, RPh, is owner of Little Five Points Pharmacy in Atlanta. He is known for being a patient advocate with a passion for independent community pharmacy. And Laura Cranston, founder and former CEO of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, enjoys consulting with organizations innovating around the delivery of clinical services by pharmacists. She is committed to enabling pharmacists to practice at the top of their license and plays a meaningful role in team-based care.

Earplanes, known best for their use in helping consumers prevent ear pain while traveling, is adding a brand new feature.

Cirrus Healthcare, the parent company of the brand, announced the launch of the EarPlanes+ companion app, which looks to actively monitor cabin pressure with the smartphone’s barometer.

In addition, the app also sends a notification when pressure is rapidly changing on a flight and gives consumers the knowledge to know when they may need ear protection, the company said.

Available for free, the EarPlanes+ app also gives Cirrus the ability to engage with its consumers directly to help generate in-store sales for its retailers, which include CVS Pharmacy, Target and Walgreens.