News Briefs

MegaFood wants to aid consumers who are having difficulty getting a good night’s sleep.

The latest launch from the Manchester, N.H.-based company is the Extra Strength Sleep Melatonin Gummies.

Featuring 10 g of melatonin per serving in an orange blossom flavor, the gummies are formulated to help consumers fall asleep quickly, the brand said.

Made with chamomile and lemon balm, the product is Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Glyphosate Residue Free and does not contain high fructose corn syrup or gelatin.

“Sleep plays a critical role in our overall health and wellness, and getting enough sleep at night should never feel unattainable,” said Erin Stokes, a naturopathic doctor and medical director at MegaFood. “Our new Extra Strength Sleep Gummies are intended for occasional use to help you fall asleep faster and support a healthy sleep cycle.”

NowRx, a tech-powered pharmacy that provides same-day prescription delivery and telehealth services, and Hyundai Motor Group, a global scale mobility provider including Hyundai Motor and Kia, are set to kick off a pilot project to explore the use of new solutions in the delivery of prescription medications.

The parties plan to launch the project later this year, serving two micro-fulfillment centers in the Los Angeles area. The pilot includes aspects of automated dispatch, fleet management and other last mile optimization technologies, with the extended scope to test autonomous vehicle technologies in the future.

Supported by the Innovation division of the Group, NowRx plans to combine its proprietary pharmacy management system QuickFill capabilities and the Group’s smart mobility solutions. The synergies are expected to provide a seamless healthcare experience to end consumers.

“Autonomous vehicles are part of our long-term strategic vision for NowRx to further reduce delivery costs at scale,” said Cary Breese, CEO and co-founder of NowRx. “We can’t imagine a better company to work with than the Group, which has demonstrated substantial leadership in the autonomous vehicle, and other robotics and automation areas.”

“The Group expects this collaboration with NowRx to help expand our mobility business model beyond the anticipated industry,” said Minsung Kim, vice president of Hyundai Motor Group and head of the Open Innovation Strategy Team. “We believe a new opportunity with the technologically innovative e-pharmacy NowRx, that uniquely integrates pharmacy management and delivery service, supports our movement toward smart mobility solutions provider.”

Camber is introducing atazanavir capsules.

The medication is the generic of Bristol Myers Squibb's Reyataz.

It is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and in pediatric patients aged 6 years old and older weighing at least 33 lbs.

Camber’s atazanavir capsules are available in 150 mg and 200 mg 60-count bottles and a 300 mg 30-count bottle.

There’s a new addition to the Rice Krispies Treats family.

The Battle Creek, Mich.-based company released Homestyle Cinnamon Sugar variety, which features fluffy marshmallows, golden butter and a sprinkle of warm cinnamon.

“Whether you’re a busy parent packing lunchboxes or a grown-up kid craving a taste of childhood, fans can enjoy this deliciously sticky, simple snack any time of day and be transported to a homey kitchen in just one bite,” said Heidi Ray, senior director of brand marketing at Kellogg’s portable wholesome snacks. “What’s more, this is the first-ever Cinnamon Sugar flavor for our Rice Krispies Treats brand, and we’re excited to add it to our beloved line of Homestyle bars.”

Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle Cinnamon Sugar is now available at grocery stores nationwide in a pack of six that retails for $3.99 and a pack of 12 for $5.24.

Loblaw has completed the previously announced acquisition of Lifemark Health Group from Audax Private Equity.

Lifemark is a leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic mental health and other ancillary rehabilitation services in Canada. With this acquisition, Loblaw through its wholly owned subsidiary Shoppers Drug Mart, adds to its growing role as a healthcare service provider, with a network of health-and-wellness solutions accessible in person and digitally.

Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, with a network of more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and associate-owned locations in communities across the country. Loblaw's purpose — Live Life Well — supports the needs and well-being of Canadians who make 1 billion visits each year to the company's stores.

[Read more: Loblaw’s Shoppers Drug Mart to acquire Lifemark Health Group]

Led by Shoppers Drug Mart, the leader in Canada's retail drug store marketplace and the No. 1 provider of pharmacy products and services, Loblaw offers full-service pharmacies and a range of services like prescriptions, med checks, vaccinations, minor-ailment diagnoses and nutrition consultations in more than 1,800 locations in 10 provinces and 2 territories, including in Shoppers Drug Mart, PharmaPrix, Loblaw pharmacy, DRUGStore Pharmacy and CENTRESante locations.

Lifemark Health Group is a Canadian leader in community rehabilitation, workplace health and wellness and medical assessment services. With over 20 years of service excellence, Lifemark Health Group, a comprehensive and trusted health provider with 3 million patient visits annually, employs over 5,000 highly trained clinicians, medical experts and team members, the company said.

As Canada's largest physiotherapy company, Lifemark said that it is passionate about enriching the health of Canadians through movement.

BestRx and ScriptAbility are poised to help independent pharmacies better care for patients with visual and language barriers via a partnership in which BestRx’s pharmacy management software is integrated with ScriptAbility.

ScriptAbility is part of En-Vision America, a company that provides high-tech products, including a variety of accessible pharmacy labels. 

ScriptAbility offers a robust and accessible cost-effective label option. This includes its ScripTalk RFID-enabled talking labels, ScriptView Large Print Labels, Dual-Language Labels, Braille Labels and Controlled Substance Safety Labels. By offering these accessible labels, pharmacies ensure all their patients can easily access and understand the dispensing instructions and safety information for their medications.

[Read more: BestRx announces scripClip interface]

Through the new integration, BestRx pharmacies can quickly produce these labels because ScriptAbility’s easy-to-use application can be accessed directly from the pharmacy management software. Instead of having to enter the patient’s information in the application, the patient and prescription details will auto populate with a few simple clicks, the companies said.

“If patients don’t understand their prescription labels, there’s a risk of mistakes. These mistakes can lead to hospitalization or even death,” said David Raistrick, president of En-Vision America. “Accessible prescription labels remove these risks and improve independence. We’re pleased to team up with BestRx. They are a proactive company that sees how accessible labels can improve medication adherence, as well as the overall quality of care for pharmacy patients.”

“BestRx continues to identify ways to help independent pharmacies provide better patient care while minimizing the impact on their daily workflow,” said Hemal Desai, president of BestRx. “This includes ensuring patients with impairments have access to information about their medications and treatment plan. Through our integration with ScriptAbility, BestRx pharmacies can quickly produce accessible prescription labels that will not only improve medication adherence, but the overall quality of care being provided as well."