Reporting on the third quarter ended Dec. 31, Prestige Brands' CEO Matthew Mannelly told analysts he is "cautiously optimistic" regarding cough-cold reorders given the high consumption levels at retail in late December through January.

Perrigo chairman, CEO and president Joe Papa shared with analysts that private label OTCs are trending strong and that growth will be sustained going forward with the number of projected Rx-to-OTCs on the horizon.

Over-the-counter products across the front-end are becoming a more and more important profit driver for independent pharmacy operators, Hamacher Resource Group and the Healthcare Distribution Management Association revealed as part of new research titled "Independent Pharmacy Shoppers: Who, What, and Why?"

Johnson & Johnson expects to return about 75% of its OTC brands to the marketplace over the course of 2013, Alex Gorsky, J&J chairman and CEO told analysts.

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the distribution of 2 million additional doses of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) 75 mg that contain an older version of the package insert.

This year is turning out to be a strong cough and cold season even though there are more flu shots being administered at retail, and those flu shots are a pretty good match to the popular strains this year — 99.4% of the H3N2 influenza viruses tested matched one of the three components of the 2012-2013 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.

The sale of 877 stores to Cerberus Capital Management will help Supervalu re-energize its remaining three businesses, current Supervalu president and CEO Wayne Sales told analysts Thursday morning.

"2012 was definitely an important year for Walgreens," Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, told shareholders here Wednesday afternoon at the chain's annual shareholder meeting. "We did make some tough choices to protect and solidify … our position for the long term," he said. "[But] our vision is crystal clear to become the first choice for health and daily living in America."

The rocketing incidence of flu has been characterized as the most severe in at least a decade, and it's only going to get worse. Or better, depending upon your perspective.

Fueled by strong store growth and increased household penetration, dollar stores have been stepping outside of their comfort zone in pursuit of consumer trips that have historically belonged to retail pharmacy.

The incidence of influenza continued on an upward trajectory heading into the Christmas holiday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.