WALGREENS

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — To put Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson's speech at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Regional Chain Conference on Monday into perspective, one may consider that pharmacists today are the leading providers of immunizations and vaccinations, whereas five years ago, they weren't involved at all.

Wasson, NACDS' current chairman, focused on the themes of innovation and engagement, citing immunizations and vaccinations as examples that "people are ready for community pharmacy to take on a greater role."

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday made available a new application programming interface that allows third-party mobile app developers to integrate the drug store chain’s prescription refill technology. Developers who have scanning functionality within their apps can easily integrate the API to enable their users to order a prescription refill by scanning the bar code on a Walgreens prescription bottle.

Walgreens promoted Joseph Magnacca to EVP from SVP. Magnacca also retains his title as president of daily living products and solutions. In this capacity, Magnacca will continue to oversee Walgreens merchandising and inventory strategy, private brands, insights and analytics, and the New York-based Duane Reade drug store chain, which Walgreens acquired in 2010. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Friday promoted Joseph Magnacca to EVP from SVP, effective immediately. Magnacca also retains his title as president of daily living products and solutions.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A standards-development organization for the pharmacy services industry has updated a white paper on protecting consumers and patients from accidental overdoses of the painkiller acetaminophen.

The NCPDP announced the updated white paper, "NCPDP Recommendations for Improved Prescription Container Labels for Medicines Containing Acetaminophen Version 1.1."

NEW YORK — A line of OTC products from Australia will hit the shelves of Walgreens Friday.

Swisse Wellness announced plans to roll out its line of multivitamins and other products in October 2012, hiring actress Nicole Kidman as the spokeswoman for the brand.

An announcement on the company's website noted that the release would coincide with Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday as it touted its Ultivite multivitamins, Swisse Ultiboost Liver Detox and Swisse Ultivite + Energy.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens' subsidiary Take Care Health Systems on Wednesday announced a clinical collaboration with Indianapolis-based Community Health Network that will facilitate more coordinated healthcare services and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable care throughout central Indiana.

NEW YORK — This year's virulent flu season driven by a predominant H3N2 bug has people hitting their drug stores in droves in search of symptomatic relief, suggested an article published online by Forbes Monday.