DSN_September/2026

INSIDE I Clean beauty Page 24

I Homeopathic Help Page 40 Se p te m b e r 2 02 6 I D R U G STOR E N E WS .CO M

Pharmacy Desert Solutions

Vol. 49 No. 7

09.26

Facebook.com/DrugStoreNews linkedin.com/company/drug-store-news/ instagram.com/dsn_media

FEATURES

16 DEPARTMENTS

COLUMNS

6

EDITOR’S NOTE

14

8

INDUSTRY NEWS

GUEST COLUMN

by MPG’s Jason Reiser

12

PRODUCTS TO WATCH

46

LAST WORD

by TelyRx’s Vanessa Slowey

24

INSIDE BEAUTY Armed with ingredient apps and AI, shoppers know more about what’s in their products

26

INSIDE BEAUTY Minority-owned brands are bringing firsthand expertise to underserved needs

28

PHARMACY: SPECIALTY REPORT Reduced time to therapy, improved adherence and expanded access are resulting in more positive patient outcomes

34

HEALTH: VMS REPORT Consumers are looking for vitamins, minerals and supplements that support specific health and wellness goals

40

HEALTH: HOMEOPATHIC REPORT Education and visibility are key to sales in this category

DSN (ISSN 0191-7587) is published monthly 9 times a year by EnsembleIQ, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Subscription rate in the United States: $158 one year; $290 two year; $17.85 single issue copy; Foreign: $214 one year; $409 two year; $21.40 single issue copy. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to DSN, 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60631. Vol. 49 No. 07, September 2026.

Copyright © 2026 by EnsembleIQ. All rights reserved.

4 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

With our simplified accreditation process, you won’t mind seeing us every year.

Annual accreditation isn’t new to The Compliance Team.

We’re the only CMS-approved, DMEPOS accreditor with annual, onsite survey experience.

In fact, we specifically designed and implemented an annual, CMS-approved DMEPOS Accreditation Program that for over 14 years helped providers stay compliant.

Experience matters. Our team has the knowledge

TCT’s annual DMEPOS Accreditation Program includes: • Easy-to-understand, CMS-approved standards.

• Simplified accreditation process.

• In-house support team experienced in annual DMEPOS accreditation.

and experience to support our current and transitioning providers with a CMS-approved, annual DMEPOS Accreditation Program.

Let’s get started! Find out more about our annual accreditation program and be confident you’re CMS compliant. Contact us at 215.654.9110 or team@thecomplianceteam.org.

A trusted leader in DMEPOS accreditation for over 30 years!

The ComplianceTeam

™

Accreditation Organization

TheComplianceTeam.org | 215-654-9110 team@TheComplianceTeam.org

EDITOR’S NOTE

The Access Issue For rural and low-income communities, pharmacy closures are significant

“In urban areas, closures may leave patients with an alternative a few miles away. In rural areas, it can mean driving 20, 30 or even 50 miles.”

—Jeremy Faulks, VP of pharmacy operations, Thrifty White

According to the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, about one in three retail pharmacies across the United States closed their doors between 2010 and 2021. No surprise, Black and Latino neighborhoods were the most vulnerable to those closures, which hurt already-limited care options.

Earlier this year, healthcare staffing platform Nursa released a study listing the states that have the highest percentage of their population living in healthcare deserts. Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska and Idaho rounded out the top five. In all, experts say almost 50 million Americans live in a pharmacy desert.

Our cover story this month (page 16) looks at the worsening issue of pharmacy deserts and what Congress and state legislatures are doing to fix it. We found that while urban closures are problematic, rural closures are especially troubling.

“In urban areas, closures may leave patients with an alternative a few miles away,” Jeremy Faulks, VP of pharmacy operations at Thrifty White drug stores, told us. “In rural areas, it can mean driving 20, 30 or even 50 miles. The concern is broader than prescriptions. Often, the pharmacy is one of the last remaining destinations for vaccinations, medication counseling, chronic disease support and preventive care.”

According to our reporting, legislators are introducing and passing state and federal bills that could help ameliorate the closures. The bills address three key issues that are draining profits and creating pharmacy “deserts,” particularly in rural and other underserved communities: PBM reform, expanding scope of practice and reimbursing pharmacists for services.

Our story looks at the various ideas for addressing the closures, and it shows they are not perfect. As our experts said, the solutions are helping people, but they cannot replace thousands of shuttered pharmacies. “We’re seeing innovative business models stepping in to provide medication access,” one source said. “They’re helpful, but recognize that there’s additional work needed.”

8550 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 200 Chicago, IL 60631 773.992.4450 Fax 773.992.4455 www.drugstorenews.com BRAND MANAGEMENT Senior Vice President & Publisher John Kenlon 516.650.2064 jkenlon@ensembleiq.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Director Nigel F. Maynard nmaynard@ensembleiq.com Managing Editor Julianne Mobilian jmobilian@ensembleiq.com Senior Editor Sandra Levy slevy@ensembleiq.com Beauty Editor Gisselle Gaitan ggaitan@ensembleiq.com ADVERTISING SALES & BUSINESS Sales Account Manager Alex Tomas 212.756.5155 atomas@ensembleiq.com Regional Manager Steven Werner 312.961.7162 swerner@ensembleiq.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION/MARKETING Art Director Catalina Gutierrez cgutierrez@ensembleiq.com Production Manager Maria del Mar Rubio mrubio@ensembleiq.com Marketing Manager Kathryn Abrahamsen kabrahamsen@ensembleiq.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES List Rental mbriganti@anteriad.com Subscription Questions contact@drugstorenews.com

CORPORATE OFFICERS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Litterick Chief Financial Officer Jane Volland Chief People Officer Ann Jadown Chief Operating Officer Derek Estey

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD John Beckner, NCPA Becky Dant, Costco J. Jeremy Faulks, Thrifty White Pharmacy Doug M. Long, IQVIA Nancy Lyons, Health Mart Pharmacy Katie Scanlon, Publix Super Markets Heidi Snyder, Drug World Pharmacies

6 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

INDUSTRY NEWS

“

On behalf of the board and our members, I want to express our deep gratitude to Scott for his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to CHPA and the self-care industry” — Greg Bradley, chairman of Foundation Consumer Healthcare and chair of the CHPA board of directors

CHPA PRESIDENT & CEO SCOTT MELVILLE TO STEP DOWN The Consumer Healthcare Products Association shared that president and CEO Scott Melville will step down from his role early next year following 16 years of leadership.

Since becoming president and CEO in 2010, Melville has led a period of significant growth and transformation for CHPA, expanding the association from its traditional focus on overthe-counter medicines to become the voice of the broader self-care industry. By bringing together OTC medicines, dietary supplements and OTC medical devices under a unified vision for self-care, he strengthened CHPA’s influence with policymakers, regulators, healthcare stakeholders and consumers, while reinforcing the association’s reputation as a trusted advocate.

“On behalf of the board and our members, I want to express our deep gratitude to Scott for his extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to CHPA and the self-care industry,” said Greg Bradley, chairman of Foundation Consumer Healthcare and chair of the CHPA board of directors.

Bradley continued, “Scott has been a tireless advocate for our members, a trusted voice with policymakers and a steady leader through periods of significant change. Thanks to his leadership, CHPA is stronger, more influential and better positioned than ever to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead. We are confident that the association is

8 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

well-prepared for its next chapter and will continue building on the strong foundation Scott has helped create.”

During Melville’s tenure, he led landmark policy achievements, including OTC monograph reform and the restoration of HSA and FSA eligibility for OTC medicines. He championed consumer access to self-care products, strengthened CHPA’s influence with regulators and policymakers and guided the industry through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also revitalized the Health In Hand Foundation, expanding its role in promoting evidence-based education and serving as a trusted source of information for consumers.

“Serving as CHPA’s president and CEO for the past 16 years has been a tremendous privilege,” said Melville. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together on behalf of our members and the consumers who rely on self-care products every day. Working alongside CHPA’s talented staff, dedicated member companies and industry leaders has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

The board’s search process will be led by chair Bradley and chair-elect Phil McWaters, senior vice president and general manager, North America Personal Health Care at Procter & Gamble, in collaboration with the CHPA Executive Committee.

P R O D U C T I O N S

NEW

SAVING THE WORLD FROM DRY EYES © 2026 ALCON INC. US-SAF-2500199

INDUSTRY NEWS

RETAILERS ROLL OUT FLU SHOTS Major retailers, including Hy-Vee and Albertsons, are now offering flu vaccines.

All Hy-Vee Pharmacy locations are now administering flu vaccines for the 2026-2027 season with no appointment or prescription necessary.

Hy-Vee Pharmacy offers both regular- and high-dose flu shots, which are free with Medicare and most insurance plans. Those who get a flu shot at Hy-Vee can also earn a 20-cent Fuel Saver reward.

While an appointment is not necessary, individuals can save time by scheduling their flu shot in advance online.

Patients can also receive multiple vaccines in one visit to Hy-Vee Pharmacy, Hy-Vee said.

Flu shots are available without a prescription to eligible patients 6 months and older at Hy-Vee stores in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota; or 3 years and older at HyVee locations in Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ PREP Act. Albertsons’ pharmacies also is offering flu immunizations.

Customers can receive a free flu immunization at any of the company’s more than 1,700 pharmacy locations, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME and Tom Thumb.

Customers who receive a qualifying vaccination at their local Albertsons pharmacy will receive a coupon for up to $20 off their next grocery purchase. The offer is available to every eligible individual who receives a qualifying vaccine, creating additional savings opportunities for households that choose to get vaccinated together.

Customers can schedule an appointment online, through their local store website or app, or visit their neighborhood pharmacy without an appointment, as walk-ins are welcome. Many locations offer evening and weekend hours to help accommodate busy schedules.

10 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

TARGET LAUNCHES BEAUTY STUDIO Following the termination of its partnership with Ulta Beauty, Target is launching the Beauty Studio, a reimagined beauty destination that will feature more than 1,600 products from 90 prestige, emerging and global brands.

Launching on Sept. 10 in more than 600 Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com, the Target Beauty Studio will have Beauty Advisors, rotating product features, Target Circle offers and a discovery-led shopping experience.

“When guests shop for beauty, they want to pick up their standbys while also exploring what’s new and trending, and Target Beauty Studio is designed with that mix in mind,” said Amanda Nusz, senior vice president of merchandising, essentials and beauty, Target. “It’s an inspiring destination to discover what’s new, now and next in beauty — and a powerful example of how our merchandising authority comes to life through an elevated guest experience.”

Some of the brands that will be available include Kaja, who recently shared that it will be rolling out several of its well-known products, including the Beauty Bento, viral Wink Stamp, Cheeky Stamp, Jelly Charm, Juicy Glass Plumping Gloss, Juicy Glass Lip Oil, Juicy Glass Lip Balm and Dewy Bar. Hair care brand &honey also announced its Target Beauty Studio debut, which will offer a wide assortment including the Deep Moist and Melty Moist Repair collections.

Muskat Beauty, founded by Daniella Jung, will bring its Purito Seoul and Aromatica brands to the US for the first time and to Target guests nationwide.

Purito Seoul will have its hero products—Mighty Bamboo Panthenol cream, Oat in Calming Gel Cream, TXA 6 Niacinamide Retinal Serum—available in store and online at Target.

Do you have patients taking once-weekly injections?

Introducing

NEW 5-count pack

Nano™ 2nd Gen Pen Needles Conveniently packaged for once-weekly injections ✓ The only pen needle fully aligned to expert recommendations1*† ✓ Compatible with widely used pen injection devices including Zepbound KwikPen2‡

Consider 5-count Nano™ 2nd Gen Pen Needles for your patients on once-weekly injections

embecta.com *Patent information provided upon written request. † A contoured-base pen needle distributes pressure more evenly, reducing the risk of intramuscular injections. While flat-base pen needles are available, currently there is little to no evidence supporting their impact. ‡ embecta’s use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between embecta and the owners of these trademarks.

1. Klonoff DC, Berard L, Franco DR, et al. Advance Insulin Injection Technique and Education with FITTER Forward Expert Recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2025; 100(4):682-699. 2. Compatibility Confirmation for Pen Needles/1490TH-0004-20. Rev Y – 2025-11-18. embecta, the embecta logo, and Nano are trademarks of Embecta Corp. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2026 Embecta Corp. All rights reserved. 2604706732SPLADSN

PRODUCTS TO WATCH

New and Noteworthy HRG’s five notable products from August

1

3

2 Product introductions tumbled from their 2026 high, as more uncertainty crept into the market and tariffs returned.

In August, product suppliers introduced 167 new products, which is a little more than half of 329 items that hit store shelves in the previous month. Waukesha, Wis.-based HRG reviewed 51 products in the health category (compared to 67 products in July), 19 in the beauty aisle (compared to 134 options in July) and 97 in the wellness space (compared to128 in the previous month) to see which ones stood out as Products to Watch.

Here are the top five products:

5

4 on-the-go. It contains Vicks’ blend of fragrance ingredients including menthol and camphor and can be used day or night, the company said. A pack contains one stick.

3. Mucinex Fast-Max Nighttime DM Max Reckitt said its Mucinex Fast-Max Nighttime DM Max controls cough and relieves runny nose and sneezing, offering nighttime relief for better mornings. It contains dextromethorphan HBr to suppress coughing and antihistamine triprolidine HCI. It comes in a 6-oz. bottle.

4. Nexxus Brunette Dark Tones Dry Shampoo 1. Biofreeze Triple Target Gel According to Reckitt, Biofreeze Triple Target Gel features a formula that is designed for powerful pain relief targeting 3X the pain receptors.* The blend of menthol, camphor and capsaicin is meant to create a sequence of cooling, warming and heating sensations that penetrate the skin to disrupt pain signals. The Triple Target Gel is NSAID-free and is Biofreeze’s strongest** formula for sore muscles, arthritis, sore joints, and backaches, the company said. It comes in a 3-oz. tube. *Refers to categories of thermoreceptors involved in pain relief vs. menthol only OTC pain relief products. **Based on combined concentration of active ingredients with the Biofreeze range.

2. Vicks VapoInhaler Max Vapors Stick Vicks VaporInhaler Max Vapors scented stick from Procter & Gamble is a portable non-medicated, easy-to-use nasal inhaler for use

12 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

Unilever has launched Nexxus Brunette Dark Tones Dry Shampoo. The product adapts to hair’s unique oil levels for long-lasting freshness, the company said. Materials also state that t removes sweat, dirt, absorbs excess oil and eliminates odor molecules. Infused with a protein complex, the invisible dry shampoo instantly refreshes while seamlessly blending into roots to enhance vibrancy and shine for darker tones, the brand added. It comes in a 5-oz. bottle.

5. Theraworx Moisturizing Skin Care Foam Avadim Technology said its new Theraworx Moisturizing Skin Care Foam is designed for people with diabetes. According to the website, its dermatologist-tested formula is made with DayMoist CLR and hyaluronic acid to help protect, soothe and moisturize diabetic skin. The foam absorbs quickly with no-mess and is free from added parabens, dyes and fragrances, the company said. Theraworx comes in a 7.10oz. foam can.

gentle clean on sensitive skin Minimal ingredients No fragrance, soaps or parabens The Trusted Choice at Every Age

GUEST COLUMN

The AI Advantage Most Brands Are Missing

Jason Reiser is chief executive officer of Market Performance Group.

A

I isn’t creating competitive advantage; better decisions are. Teams are drafting content, summarizing research, tracking competitors and building scenarios faster than ever. But speed alone is not the advantage. The value is whether that speed leads to better decisions and stronger business outcomes.

That’s the progression brands need to make, from activity, to productivity, to decision advantage. Inside the business, they need to improve how work gets done and decisions get made. In the market, they need data, content, evidence and performance signals that AI systems can understand and act on.

Miss either side and the advantage breaks down. A faster organization with disconnected market signals can still lose visibility. A brand with strong signals but a fragmented operating model will struggle to act on them.

Many companies still haven’t moved much beyond activity. Teams are applying AI in different ways, without a shared view of which use cases matter most, who owns the decisions or how the work connects to business performance.

That’s where activity needs to turn into productivity. A good place to start is by mapping AI to a few clear jobs: research, decide, execute and review. That shifts the conversation from tools to where AI can create real business value.

And it means being clear about where

14 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

AI should create speed and where human judgment still has to lead.

AI is well suited to high-volume work that can be checked and corrected.

Competitive monitoring, research, retailer tracking, scenario development and content development can all move faster with the right oversight.

Here’s what this can look like in practice.

Recently, a leading men’s personal care brand used AI-powered analysis, guided by ecommerce and retail expertise, to benchmark its Walmart.com PDPs against two direct competitors across 10 quality dimensions. The brand led on certifications and review volume, but its top SKUs lacked product videos, a gap its closest competitor had already closed. Armed with that quantified finding, rather than a general sense that “content could be better,” the team prioritized video for its five highest-traffic listings this quarter, a targeted fix that could have taken weeks to surface through an unaided manual audit.

And that gets to an important point.

Many decisions still require experienced human judgment and clear ownership.

Scientific claims, regulatory responses, sourcing standards, pricing moves and the promises a brand makes to consumers cannot be left to an unnamed system.

AI can strengthen the inputs, but someone with the right expertise still has to make and own the call. We’re helping many clients map those choices: where AI

can accelerate the work, where judgment must stay in human hands, and what safeguards are needed to turn experimentation into a repeatable capability.

That map should draw a clear line. AI can run high-volume, reversible tasks with human oversight. It can support analysis and drafting where an experienced person still makes the call. When brand, scientific, legal or ethical accountability is at stake, human judgment stays in charge.

That’s where productivity becomes a decision advantage.

Start with one 90-day move: accelerate one workstream, name the human checkpoint and identify one judgment call you will deliberately protect.

But the operating model is only half the equation.

AI search systems, shopping agents and retailer models are reading product data, claims, evidence, availability, shopper relevance and operational performance. If those signals are inconsistent across the organization, the brand becomes harder to understand, recommend, and support.

That is the advantage most brands are missing: a stronger operating model inside the company and one clear, connected brand truth in the market.

The companies that win won’t be the ones using the most AI. They’ll be the ones making better decisions because of it, and turning those decisions into stronger execution.

COVER STORY

FINDING THE OASIS State and federal legislation, along with efforts by non-traditional operators, could hydrate America’s growing pharmacy deserts

By Debby Garbato

“

Seeing is believing, but feeling is truth,” noted English physician and writer Thomas Fuller in his 1732 book “Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs.” Nearly 300 years later, the phrase describes the attitudes of law makers as they contemplate the massive closings that have plagued pharmacies in recent years. Unlike some other issues that undergo legal review, this problem has become so serious that politicians are seeing and experiencing it in their own communities.

16 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

“

What’s especially notable is that drug closures have far outpaced grocery and mass over the same period.”

—Jacqueline Flam, senior VP, beauty, drug and OTC retail, NIQ

More Time.

Built for Scale.

Orchestrated Pharmacy Fulfillment Optimizing Central Fill Enable pharmacists to focus more on patient care.

COVER STORY

More aggressively than ever, legislators are introducing and passing state and federal bills that could help emeliorate closures.

The bills address three key issues that are draining profits and creating pharmacy “deserts,” particularly in rural and other underserved communities: PBM reform, expanding scope of practice and reimbursing pharmacists for services.

“Congress members say they’re very concerned about closures, which generated tremendous momentum,” said Chris Krese, SVP of congressional relations and communications, NACDS. “They see it in their communities. There’s a direct relationship to their concern and attention they’re giving. They understand. It hasn’t always been that way. Sometimes, things must get worse before getting better.”

Some new laws do not take effect until 2028; others are still being debated. Meanwhile, other pharmacy operators are filling some voids left by pharmacy closures. Walmart and Amazon continue to grow their online, same-day delivery pharmacies, while some regional grocers are expanding or upgrading

18 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

theirs. And telepharmacy is now permitted in 29 states. Other “solutions” include mobile pharmacies, cost plus pricing and expanded pharmacy services at federally qualified health centers (see sidebar).

Since 2021, about 10,000 retail pharmacies have closed, according to NIQ TDLinx’s Localization dataset, which tracks store closings by channel. Drug stores accounted for about 21% of closures, preceded only by convenience stores at around 17,000. “What’s especially notable is that drug closures have far outpaced grocery and mass over the same period,” said Jacqueline Flam, senior VP, beauty, drug and OTC retail, NIQ.

2025

COVER STORY

OTHER DESERT SOLUTIONS Below is a list of relatively new solutions, often provided by non-retail pharmacies, that address the pharmacy desert problem. While most are regional and limited in scope, they are meeting patient needs in some of the driest pharmacy deserts, often in poor rural communities.

Regional Supermarkets: * In October, Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle announced it would open more standalone pharmacies after selling its GetGo convenience stores. It has already converted some former Rite Aid stores to the Giant Eagle Pharmacy banner. In July, Kroger announced it would purchase Giant Eagle. * New York-based Tops Friendly Markets invested roughly $1 million to improve in-store pharmacies across eight locations. It expanded dispensing areas, doubled register count, generated extra drug storage space, added more work terminals and added or expanded consulting areas. Tops also added a pharmacy to a store in an underserved area in Niagara Falls. Plus, Tops is reviewing central fill and AI-powered phone system technologies. * In July, Northeastern supermarket cooperative Wakefern Food said it would implement centralized fulfillment in partnership with technology provider iA Inc. early next year. The 12,000 square foot facility will serve pharmacies at 149 ShopRite stores and two The Fresh Grocer locations.

“Supermarket pharmacies are uniquely positioned to help address growing access challenges,” said Aaron Sapp, VP, pharmacy and wellness. “Technology will free pharmacists to spend more time on patient care, medication counseling and consultations.”

Mobile Pharmacies: * Mobile pharmacies are restricted in most states under non-emergency conditions.

Only a handful of states allow them. * The Mountain Area Health Education Center operates

20 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

Jessica Satterfield, director of policy and pharmacy affairs at the National Community Pharmacists’ Association, said one in eight communities is a pharmacy desert, including urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods. “We’re seeing closures where there’s already deserts,” she added. “With the direction pharmacy is going, how can pharmacies best care for patents?”

Jeremy Faulks, VP of pharmacy operations at Thrifty White drug stores in Maple Grove, Minn., said rural and unserved inner cities have been hard hit. “In urban areas, closures may leave patients with an alternative a few miles away,” he added. “In rural areas, it can mean driving 20, 30 or even 50 miles. The concern is broader than prescriptions. Often, the pharmacy is one of the last remaining destinations for vaccinations, medication counseling, chronic disease support and preventive care.” Thrifty operates 90+ Midwestern locations. Sixty are in rural markets.

NCPA and the University of Southern California created an interactive mapping tool that lets people identify deserts by specific geographies and compare neighborhoods over time. This real-time information helps legislators, academics and industry leaders identify communities lacking pharmacies. The tool can be accessed at: pharmacydeserts.com.

CRUCIAL LEGISLATION Unrealistic price gouging by PBM “middlemen” is a key issue, critics say. Stu Beatty, dean at Raabe College of Pharmacy at Ohio Northern University, said that depending on the insurance, a pharmacy can go from profitability to “losing 30%.” He added, “no other business works that way. There’s no lack of money in medications. Insurances, wholesalers and PBMs are all Fortune 15 companies.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (HR 7178), which takes effect Jan. 1, 2028, delinks PBM pay from drug list prices in Medicare Part D, restricting payments to flat “bona fide service fees,” and enforcing strict transparency and rebate disclosures.

While work is far from done, this federal bill includes “the most extensive Medicare PBM reforms ever enacted,” Krese said.

Expanding scope of practice can also help pharmacies’ profit.

“Specialized clinical services are increasingly important,” said Faulks. “Pharmacies providing clinical programs, medication support, immunizations, adherence services, medication therapy management, chronic disease support and provider partnerships are generally better positioned than pharmacies relying only on dispensing margins.”

Services are vital in areas lacking medical professionals. Raabe’s 10-year-old Onu HealthWise clinical program was designed as a student training tool. But with nearby Rite Aid’s closing, its community pharmacy in Ada, Ohio, is now the only one within 20 miles. There is also a mobile clinic staffed by pharmacists and students, said Beatty. Ada is home to 2,800 in a county of 33,000.

For many, this is the closest healthcare destination. Raabe works under a collaborative practice agreement with Mercy Health-St. Ritas Medical Center in Lima. Still, it cannot provide all needed services. “We’re doing everything we can, but we’re limited,”

FQHC clinics in rural, rugged areas of western North Carolina plus two standalone pharmacies. This fall, it will debut an RV-size mobile pharmacy to serve areas beyond clinics. Matt Ransom, PharmD, MPH, CPP, 340B ACE, chair of pharmacy, said many patients are low income, on Medicare or uninsured. * “Ruggedness takes into account topography and rough roads,” he added. “A mile in one place is different than a mile elsewhere. It’s about increasing access for people in need.” Many drugs are donated by suppliers, resulting in attractive prices.

In June 2024, Yale New Haven Health launched InMotion, a 38-foot mobile clinic and pharmacy serving those who are “disconnected” from healthcare throughout Connecticut. Staff draws blood, conducts exams and instantly fills prescriptions.

InMotion has improved access to medications for opioid abuse and HIV treatment and prevention.

said Beatty. “Ohio still hasn’t passed test-and-treat legislation.

We’re also exploring opportunities to start HIV testing and PrEP and PEP, plus potential cancer screenings. There are many opportunities.”

In many states, this is changing. Krese said 400-plus scope of practice policy changes have been enacted over the past three years, including 48 bills in 29 states in 2024, 60 in 35 states in 2025 and 74 in 35 states so far in 2026. Idaho and Iowa have achieved full practice authority, Washington, Montana and California have partial policies, and NACDS supported 2026 scope wins in Alaska, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Wyoming.

But pharmacies must be fairly compensated to truly profit.

“Reimbursement revolves mainly around dispensing,” said Joel Wright, president of pharmacy services at VytlOne in Plano, Texas. “Billing will make the difference,” Satterfield added.

Beatty said pharmacists want the same billing codes as doctors and other practitioners. “I don’t want pharmacists to replace physicians, but there aren’t enough physicians,” said Beatty.

Some solutions are coming. In May, the House Ways and Means Committee passed The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164 / S. 2426), which would give pharmacists provider status under Medicare Part B. It lets Medicare directly reimburse pharmacists for test-to-treat clinical services for common respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, influenza, RSV and strep throat. The bills are awaiting consideration on the House floor.

“Legislation recognizes the expanding clinical role pharmacists play in patient care,” said Christopher Cella, R.Ph., national VP of RxOwnership, McKesson.

Pharmacies in Rural FQHCs * In 2010, VytlOne began developing and running pharmacies in FQHCs, “bringing technology and expertise and recruiting staff,” said Joel Wright, president of pharmacy services. Under the 240B part of the Affordable Care Act, patients buy drugs at reduced costs. “There’s many organizations that want to provide services that don’t have expertise,” he added. “We help provide profit and sustain their mission.” Pharmacies have grown rapidly in three years. Recently, some drive throughs were added. * In 2023, McKesson launched Project Micro Access Pharmacy to provide seed funding and guidance to establish pharmacies in FQHCs, said Christopher Cella, R.Ph., national VP of RxOwnership. These nine pharmacies are owned/operated by participating FQHCs and supported by hub pharmacies. “Some were established in communities affected by recent pharmacy closures,” added Cella. “Others bring access where patients previously had to travel significant distances.” * In 2024, McKesson initiated Project Oasis, which supports pathways to independent ownership by pharmacists in “desert” communities. But such undertakings are complex and require significant capital. “By taking on much of the upfront investment and infrastructure work, we help pharmacists accelerate their path to ownership,” said Cella. One location opened in Avondale, Ohio. Another will “most likely” debut in Syracuse, N.Y., added Cella.

DRUGSTORENEWS.COM September 2026 21

COVER STORY

“

Telepharmacy is now permitted in 29 states. ” — Ronna Hauser, PharmD, SVP policy and pharmacy affairs, NCPA

SAME DAY DELIVERY To varying degrees, other providers are filling gaps left by drug store closures. The most far reaching are probably Amazon’s and Walmart’s online, same day delivery services. Launched in six states in October 2025, Walmart’s Pharmacy Delivery serves 49 states. Prescriptions can be delivered alongside other products. As of September 2025, Walmart said it had fulfilled 4 million-plus pharmacy delivery orders.

Amazon introduced same day delivery in 2022, with 60% of prescriptions now delivered that way, said Tanvi Patel, VP and GM. Amazon Pharmacy serves 3,000-plus communities. It will expand to almost 4,500 by year’s end. The company more than doubled new customers during the first half of 2026, with same day prescriptions growing almost five times year-over-year. “With increased pharmacy closures, we deliver convenience,” Patel said.

“We’re becoming core critical.”

When prescribers send a prescription to Amazon, they and the patient immediately learn its in-stock position, price and delivery time. Licensed pharmacists can be contacted 24/7 via telephone and online. “Those bare elements complement what we’re doing in logistics and operations,” said Patel.

Amazon serves different markets in various ways. In addition to its driver network, it uses e-bikes, electric vehicles and even ferries and horses sometimes. It also engages third party logistics partners in some places. “This fills gaps in many rural areas,” said Patel.

After piloting drone deliveries in College Point, Texas, Amazon is rolling them out elsewhere in the state. But drones cannot function

22 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

everywhere. FCC regulations and other challenges exist. “Where available, it’s working well,” said Patel. “But there’s weight limits, consumer acceptance and prescriptions must fit drones.”

Amazon is in most insurance networks. It also has programs geared around affordability, including RxPass. Prime members can purchase unlimited $5 generics. “It appeals to the uninsured and underinsured,” said Patel. Prescriptions are fulfilled separately from general Amazon orders.

Amazon also added prescription dispensing kiosks to 23 of its California One Medical clinics in December 2025. Patients can access prescriptions immediately after appointments. One Medical combines 24/7 virtual care with in-person primary care doctors in 200 locations across 20-plus metro areas.

Despite same day delivery’s success, it is not a solution for everyone. “There are patients who aren’t digitally native,” said Kate Maheu, partner in the Healthcare and Life Sciences practice at Kearney, a strategy and management consulting firm. “They want to go to a physical location or can’t access digital channels, like an elderly grandma.”

Delivery models also cannot replace many pharmacy services.

“It doesn’t administer a vaccine, provide walk-in counseling or build relationships that community pharmacists provide,” said Faulks.

COST PLUS & TELEPHARMACY Some pharmacies, particularly independents, have enacted costplus models, which bypass PBMs and insurance, creating upfront pricing transparency. But this does not fit every scenario. “It’s pretty affordable for patients,” said Dr. Michael Murphy, senior advisor for state government affairs, American Pharmacists Association. “But it’s largely for generics, not for everyone or every medication.”

Telepharmacy is now permitted in 29 states. “It’s highly dependent on state dynamics,” said Ronna Hauser, PharmD, SVP policy and pharmacy affairs, NCPA. “We like to call it tele local.

Care is provided by somebody in a distant location who gives advice.”

Dr. Murphy added, “many policies are working their way through state legislatures. It’s too early to tell how meaningful telepharmacies will be.” Telepharmacies must also be a certain distance from physical ones. “They’re focused on where there appears to be pharmacy deserts.”

Many aforementioned solutions are helping people. But they cannot all replace thousands of shuttered pharmacies. “We’re seeing innovative business models stepping in to provide medication access,” said Dr. Murphy. “They’re helpful, but recognize that there’s additional work needed.”

Solutions lie with legislators. But is current legislation enough?

And is it too late? “I don’t think we’ve done anything yet that will change the big picture,” said Wright. “I hope we get there sooner, not later. It’s not a short journey. Many people make money off the current system.”

Delivering for your pharmacy,

whatever it takes The products you depend on.

The support you need.

The partner you trust.

Visit us today at andanet.com or call 1-800-331-ANDA (2632) Follow us @andainc

LEADING PHARMACEUTICAL WHOLESALER A01-42223-071726

I NS I D E

The Evolution of Clean Beauty Armed with ingredient apps and AI, shoppers know more about what’s in their products

By Faye Brookman

T

here’s no fooling today’s shopper. While packaging touting brands as clean, natural or organic used to be enough to sway purchasing decisions, today’s consumers are armed with more information.

Customers are more discerning than ever, putting the onus on brands and retailers to ensure their assortments align with shoppers’ evolving wish lists. Keeping pace with ever-changing ingredient trends can be a challenge, particularly in clean beauty. The rise of K-beauty has accelerated that shift, introducing a wave of new, better-for-you ingredients that consumers are eager to discover and buy, both in stores and online—and ushering in an entirely new ingredient lexicon along the way.

The clean moniker gets tossed around a lot, but what does it really mean?

“When customers ask for ‘natural’ or ‘clean,’ they are usually looking for ingredient safety, transparency in sourcing and products free from specific controversial chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, or in the case of our deodorant brand, aluminum,” said Alicia Zalka, a dermatologist and founder of Surface Deep. “They seek efficacy without compromise or worry. People

24 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

are savvy and expect the greatest outcome with the fewest hardto-pronounce chemicals, choosing ingredients that are as close to their source in nature as possible.”

The definition of clean and natural has evolved, noted Elina Sophia Wang, cofounder of ESW Beauty, which is sold at many mass market retailers. “Consumers understand that natural doesn’t automatically mean better and synthetic doesn’t automatically mean bad. What they increasingly want is transparency, efficacy, safety and confidence that a brand has been intentional about its formulations,” she said.

Today’s consumer looks beyond labels on the package. “The clean beauty consumer today is completely different from who they were just a few years ago. They are doing their homework,” said Juan Morillo, office manager for OKAY Pure Naturals. “Between TikTok, ingredient-checking apps, Reddit and Google, shoppers research products long before they make a purchase.

They know what they are looking for and are asking smarter questions than ever before.”

Added Tara Fankhanel, president and co-ounder of Cosmette Skincare, which is formulated with botanical and plant-based

ingredients, “Googling an answer is different from truly understanding how an ingredient behaves, both on its own and within a formulation. We stay committed to ingredient transparency and education, always. That means detailed ingredient breakdowns, transparent sourcing and a non- negotiable commitment to safety in every formulation.”

Osmosis Beauty even created its own app to help consumers make informed decisions, according to Rene Torres, director of wellness and licensed esthetician for the skin care brand.

“As more people turn to AI and digital tools to research ingredients and make informed decisions, we’ve embraced that evolution by developing our own branded digital tool, Dr. Ben AI. It provides science-backed, brand-specific guidance to help consumers better understand our ingredients, formulations and holistic philosophy,” she said.

Arielle Moody, the founder of Mama Sol, said what consumers really want is peace of mind. “They want products that are safe, effective and thoughtfully formulated. ‘Clean’ doesn’t have a universal definition, so it can mean different things to different people,” she said.

For Mama Sol, the goal was to avoid unnecessary additives. “Consumers don’t want to compromise performance for cleaner formulations; they expect both,” she said. “We have a dedicated page on our website that explains every single ingredient in our formulas, what it does and why we chose it.”

Deborah Dixon, owner of Precious Mineralz, said that maintaining a close connection with customers helps the company stay informed about evolving skin care preferences and ingredient trends. Being a clean brand is especially important to Dixon.

“From the start, both women’s and men’s products have been formulated with clean ingredients,” Dixon said. “Our unique key ingredient, the nanotubular kaolin clay called Halloysite, is classified by FDA as Generally Regarded as Safe and is on the EPA’s Inert List,” she said.

But consumers are also navigating more conflicting advice than ever, warned Sydney Dake, founder and CEO of Gntl, a skin care brand. “You can find someone

ESW Beauty

Surface Deep

making a case for or against almost any ingredient or philosophy from tallow and clean beauty to chemical SPF,” she said.

“That makes transparency more than just the ingredient list; it means explaining why each ingredient is there, what it contributes to the formula, and where we’ve made deliberate tradeoffs.”

Gntl used Daash Intelligence and its real-time sell-through data to judge product performance down to the SKU level she said. “As an indie brand, having that visibility gives me much more confidence in where we innovate and invest,” Dake said.

Retailers are adopting their own standards for clean, too. Target’s Clean program features a Clean label online and in stores and provides a full list of excluded ingredients in a link. Some of the brands earning the label include e.l.f. Beauty, Being Frenshe and Native.

CVS also identifies brands without parabens, phthalates, sulfates and other harsh chemicals with an icon online and in stores with a link for full product lineup. Walgreens promotes a curated assortment of natural and organic items with a link to definitions of natural and organic.

Walmart’s Clean Beauty program includes products formulated without more than 1,200 ingredients.

The challenge is keeping up with changing consumer ingredient preferences.

“Consumers are becoming more ingredient-savvy than ever, and they’re looking beyond trendy buzzwords,” said Moody.

“Barrier-supporting ingredients like ectoin, ceramides and squalane continue to gain momentum because they help strengthen and support the skin barrier.

We’re also seeing growing interest in protective antioxidants like Kakadu plum, green tea and French rose extract, which help defend against environmental stressors and free radical damage.”

Zalka at Surface Deep also identified ectoin along with retinoids, bakuchiol, vitamin C and humectants such as hyaluronic acid and emollient-rich ceramides.

“Actives that provide many benefits in one are sought-after ingredients, like niacinamide and alpha hydroxy acids,” she said.

The biggest takeaway for brands and retailers is simple, said Morillo. “Customers are not playing around anymore. They are well informed, well equipped and they expect transparency. You need to know your ingredients, understand your formulations and be able to explain why your products deserve a place on the shelf. The brands that will stand out are those that educate consumers, communicate honestly, and earn trust through transparency, not just clever marketing.”

DRUGSTORENEWS.COM September 2026 25

I NS I D E

Turning Experience Into Market Opportunity Minority-owned brands are bringing firsthand expertise to underserved needs

By Faye Brookman

D

espite persistent funding and access barriers, minority beauty founders continue to thrive. By developing targeted innovations for overlooked needs, these brands are addressing gaps in the market.

Inside Beauty asked several minority-owned brands to share how their backgrounds influence their products, what unique expertise they bring to beauty categories and the challenges they’ve faced building their businesses.

Inside Beauty: Are there categories where founders or owners bring a unique skill set that helps solve specific consumer needs?

Sydney Dake, founder and CEO of Gntl: Absolutely, and beauty and personal care might be the most powerful example. Gntl was influenced by my Japanese heritage and a lived understanding of the minimalist, ingredient-first approach that’s at the heart of Japanese culture. Growing up between two cultures, I saw firsthand how much Western routines could be simplified and how many people were dealing with irritation, waste and confusion from multi-step regimens. I wasn’t trying to solve a

26 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

hypothetical problem or fill a whitespace on a spreadsheet; I was solving my own. My background in product development and brand building gave me the confidence to uniquely tackle the opportunity. Authenticity is something customers can feel, and I think it’s why the brand connects with people who are looking for an entirely fresh approach to care, rather than a new label on a familiar formula.

Elina Sophia Wang, co-founder and CEO of ESW Beauty: A founder’s background and personal experiences can give them an understanding of consumers who might otherwise be overlooked. Beauty is especially personal, and representation among founders can lead to products, ingredients, rituals and stories that resonate with communities in a much more authentic way.

As an Asian American founder, my heritage has naturally influenced how I think about skin care. Growing up with Asian beauty rituals and ingredients gave me a different perspective on self-care and skin care, while my experience in the U.S. beauty industry helped me understand how to make those concepts approachable for a broader consumer.

IB: With 40 years in the business, Firstline Brands is a prime example of a Blackowned successful brand that addressed an untapped market need. What’s the blueprint for success?

Joni Odum, president and CEO of Firstline Brands: Firstline Brands has established itself as a category leader and the first Black-owned—now women-owned—company dedicated exclusively to textured hair tools and accessories. For four decades, we have combined consumer insight with purposeful innovation to develop products that address the unique needs of textured hair while shaping trends across the multicultural beauty category.

We know our customer because we are our customer. That guiding philosophy has remained at the heart of the company’s success, driving the development of thoughtfully designed tools and accessories that empower consumers to care for, protect and celebrate their hair with confidence.

IB: Although many minority owners created products for specific needs such as melanin skin, are there opportunities to expand the products to the general market?

Patricia Gallardo, co-founder of EpicLight: As Latina and Pakistani founders, our backgrounds have absolutely shaped the way we think about beauty, but we didn’t start EpicLight to create a minority-owned beauty brand. We started it because, as women over 40, we couldn’t find makeup that looked beautiful on evolving skin. We wanted makeup that performed like skin care, looked natural on real skin and was powered by ingredients that support healthier-looking skin over time.

Our own experiences influenced every decision we made, from creating skin care-powered formulas to ensuring every

Joni Odum, Alicia Zalka, MD, Firstline Brands Surface Deep

product worked beautifully across all skin tones. Growing up Latina, I understood there is no one “Latina skin tone.” Our community spans a beautiful range of complexions and undertones, and that reinforced our belief that our products should be universally flattering. The same was true with Saima’s (co-founder Saima Rathor) Pakistani heritage. We wanted products that celebrated diversity without being created for only one customer.

Our heritage is part of our story, but it isn’t the whole story.

One of the most interesting experiences we had early on was that, because we described EpicLight as minority-owned and featured women of color in some of our marketing, people immediately asked whether the brand was only for women of color. We were surprised because we had never said that. In fact, from day one our website and social media featured women of every ethnicity and skin tone.

That experience reinforced something we’ve always believed: being a minority founder shouldn’t mean your products are assumed to be only for one community.

Dr. Alicia Zalka, founder of Surface Deep: Founders and owners often bring unique skill sets and personal experiences that are critical for solving problems in categories such as hair type and skin tone. As a board-certified dermatologist, I founded Surface Deep to address skin health and the prevention of unwanted body odor through a deep understanding of the skin’s microbiome and pH. This expert-led approach is part of a broader trend of science-backed innovation that values inclusiveness and caters to all populations and specific dermatological needs. Our brand is intentionally gender-neutral and skin-tone inclusive for all. Our labels state that our products are for all people.

Jin Soon Choi, JINsoon

Sydney Dake, Gntl

Saima Rathor and Patricia Gallardo, EpicLight

IB: Are there categories where you think women have an edge as owners?

Annabel Hay, founder of Clutch: Absolutely, and I’d argue the drug store aisle is exactly where it shows up. In beauty, personal care, intimates and fashion accessories, women aren’t just the founders; we’re the end customer.

Clutch exists because fashion tape failed me and I didn’t need market research to understand the problem; I was the market. That lived experience is a real edge.

You build the product a woman actually wants because you’ve needed it yourself and you instinctively understand the shopper standing in that aisle deciding whether to pick it up.

IB: Do minority-owned brands still face disproportionate barriers related to funding, retail access, industry connections or visibility? Have you seen meaningful progress in any of these areas?

Jin Soon Choi, founder of JINsoon: Yes, I think many minority-owned brands still face challenges. You can have a wonderful product and a meaningful story, but it can still be difficult to find funding, retail opportunities or the right connections.

Even manufacturing can be challenging.

Smaller brands naturally place smaller orders, so it’s often harder to receive the same attention or speed as larger companies. Sometimes people look only at today’s sales numbers instead of seeing the quality of the product, the story behind it, or its long-term potential. That can be discouraging.

Things are improving. Retailers and the media are becoming more interested in diverse founders, and consumers are looking for authentic brands. I hope that support continues beyond a single campaign and helps smaller brands build lasting businesses.

Elina Sofia Wang, ESW Beauty

Deborah Dixon, Precious Mineralz

Annabel Hay, Clutch

DRUGSTORENEWS.COM September 2026 27

PHARMACY: SPECIALTY REPORT

The Expansion of Specialty Pharmacies Reduced time to therapy, improved adherence and expanded access are resulting in more positive patient outcomes

By Julie Gallagher

F

or years, specialty pharmacy has been viewed primarily as the channel responsible for dispensing high-cost, high-touch medications. Today, that role is expanding dramatically.

As therapies become more complex—and the barriers to accessing them continue to grow—specialty pharmacies are increasingly serving as care coordinators, patient advocates and clinical partners. From navigating prior authorizations and financial assistance to monitoring adherence and coordinating with providers, specialty pharmacies are helping patients scale hurdles that stand between their prescription and a successful outcome.

“The biggest gaps are usually not about whether the right therapy exists,” said Rahul Mittal, head of strategy and innovation, health systems at pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories North America. “The issue is whether the patient can actually start therapy, afford it, understand it and remain on it.”

Gaps in specialty pharmacy care most often affect patients with complex chronic diseases who have high-cost therapies, lower financial resilience, weaker support systems and poor

28 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

As therapies become more complex—and the barriers to accessing them continue to grow—specialty pharmacies are increasingly serving as care coordinators, patient advocates and clinical partners.

geographic access, according to Mittal. These patients rely on medications to treat things like cancer, blood diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, gastrointestinal disease, pulmonary disease, sickle cell disease, kidney disease and rare diseases.

Rising coinsurance and higher out-of-pocket costs can pose a significant barrier to adherence, especially among lower-income and underinsured patients. Geography also matters, noted Mittal, who cited a report in The American Journal of Managed Care that finds that pharmacy deserts affect a meaningful share of Americans, especially those who are living in disadvantaged

ADVANTAGE

YOU!

Leading The Way In The Evolving Generics Marketplace You need a partner with vertical manufacturing strength, a deep pipeline of products, and the passion to deliver for your patients. Camber is a leader in product approvals and launches, many of which are large molecule, specialty, and complex generics.

We’re also leaders in responding to the needs of our customers. Our commitment to quality and consistent supply are your distinct advantage.

Camber is growing to meet the needs of an aging population.

Let’s grow together!

camberpharma.com FOLLOW CAMBER ON LINKEDIN

PHARMACY: SPECIALTY REPORT

Sandra Canally, The Compliance Team

communities. In addition to having fewer pharmacy options, patients in rural and other underserved areas often have less transportation support and more limited ability to navigate complex access requirements.

“In simple terms, the patients most affected are often the ones who need the system to work the best but have the least capacity to absorb delays, cost, confusion, or administrative burden,” said Mittal.

More and more specialty pharmacies are meeting these patients where they are by delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. “In many cases they are the practical execution layer between the prescription and patient outcome,” said Mittal.

“They support the patient across access, affordability, education, adherence and coordination.”

Access navigation can include benefit investigation, prior authorization support, denial management, appeals, payer routing and coordination with hubs or patient assistance programs. Therapy onboarding is another area of focus with specialty pharmacists providing support in the form of injection training, side effect counseling, lab or immunization checks, copay assistance and treatment education before the patient starts therapy, according to Mittal. Adherence support comes in the form of refill and adherence monitoring, individualized care plans, clinical followup and care coordination.

The latest American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Survey of Health-System Specialty Pharmacy Practice: Clinical Services—2024 found that among patients receiving their medications through health-system

30 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

Rahul Mittal, Dr. Reddy’s

specialty pharmacies, the most common services included refill reminders (92%), adherence monitoring (90%) and individualized patient care plans (80%).

Many are also addressing financial and social barriers to adherence, with 43% of HSSPs using social determinants of health information to support patient care. Pharmacies collecting this data are exploring such areas as financial resource strain (84%), depression (68%) and housing instability (68%). Patients deemed to have needs in these areas were commonly connected with social workers (72%) and financial counselors/advocates (65%), according to the survey.

“The better models also create visibility across the patient journey,” Mittal said.

“They document interventions, treatment response, access status, and adherence issues, often in shared systems such as the electronic health record. That makes it easier to identify and solve issues before they become therapy failures.”

Sandra Canally, founder and CEO of The Compliance Team, which offers an Exemplary Provider Specialty Pharmacy Accreditation program for pharmacies that serve patients with complex and chronic diseases, said the best specialty pharmacies consistently deliver highquality, patient-centered care that is coordinated across pharmacists, prescribers, nurses and other healthcare providers. The accreditation program evaluates operational processes, clinical services and quality practices needed to support safe medication management and coordinated patient care.

Pharmacies with a proactive, rather than reactive, approach build strong clinical

Jeff Prewitt, Cardinal Health

relationships with their patients and across their healthcare team, according to Canally.

“I’ve found our specialty pharmacy clients who are most successful have used accreditation to provide the framework to build standardized, evidence-based processes that work,” she said. “And it’s the consistent execution of these best practices supported by skilled clinical teams, meaningful quality measurements and a commitment to continuous improvement that has led them to better patient outcomes and continuity of care.”

Specialty pharmacies also differentiate themselves through the depth of their patient relationships and their ability to deliver personalized support throughout the treatment journey. Independent specialty pharmacies are at an advantage when it comes to delivering patient-specific care such as this, according to Mittal.

“The real value comes from repeated touchpoints where the pharmacy understands the patient’s condition, barriers, financial stress, side effects, refill behavior, and communication preferences,” he said. “A good independent specialty pharmacy can often identify early signs of non-adherence, therapy abandonment, affordability pressure, or confusion before those issues show up elsewhere in the system.”

These pharmacies are also flexible in their ability to tailor outreach, education, refill coordination and financial navigation more personally than a highly standardized central model. While personalized service such as this can result in better patient outcomes, challenges to delivering customized patient care persist.

Empowering Community Pharmacies to Close the Care Gap Community pharmacy plays a critical role in addressing today’s healthcare provider shortages and access challenges.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Share a meaningful experience related to the #FillHealthCareGaps

At DSN, we’ve launched #FillHealthcareGaps to promote community pharmacy as a solution to the healthcare supply shortage and to ensure the world sees the clinical impact you make every day.

cause. Let your story inspire others!

LEARN MORE

PHARMACY: SPECIALTY REPORT “Specialty pharmacy is an increasingly clinical, high-touch model of care, but many organizations are being asked to do more with limited resources,” said Canally. “When staffing is stretched, it becomes more difficult to provide proactive outreach, frequent followup and the personalized support that specialty patients often need.”

Jeff Prewitt, vice president, specialty physician office for Cardinal Health, a healthcare services company that supports the specialty medication ecosystem, said automation is helping to elevate care, as it allows teams to focus on targeted outreach and caring for patients.

Advanced patient management tools, predictive modeling and integrated data analytics are enabling a shift from reactive patient management to proactive, preventative intervention. By aggregating data across reimbursement workflows, patient support programs, refill activity and engagement channels, pharmacies can identify barriers and flag patients at risk of nonadherence before a therapy gap occurs, according to Prewitt.

“By systematically driving workflows that enable pharmacists to operate at the top of their clinical license, these organizations are actively managing the patient journey,” Prewitt said.

“From proactive side-effect mitigation to navigating complex reimbursement pathways, specialty pharmacies are proving that clinical intervention, rather than just dispensing efficiency, is the key driver of therapeutic success, especially when dispensing occurs close to the patient and is integrated into the broader care model.”

Cardinal Health’s Sonexus Access and Patient Support team uses an operational model that combines talent, AI-powered technology and its non-commercial specialty pharmacy to provide a patient access and support hub for biopharmaceutical manufacturers.

“By helping patients navigate benefits investigation, prior authorization and reimbursement requirements, Sonexus supports faster access to therapy,” Prewitt said. “When paired with off-site administrative support structures like our Atrix Ally program, we can partner

32 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

“

The greatest opportunity to close remaining gaps lies in further integrating the specialty pharmacy directly into the patient’s care delivery model, ensuring dispensing occurs as close to the patient’s community as possible with data flowing across the care team.”

— Jeff Prewitt, vice president, specialty physician office for Cardinal Health

to work on complex claims adjudication, ultimately improving access for patients.

This hybrid approach significantly reduces the administrative burden on health systems, allowing frontline clinical staff to remain strictly focused on top-oflicense, direct patient care.”

While specialty pharmacies have made strides in improving patient care, future standouts will further improve time to therapy, proactive adherence management and equity of access, according to Mittal.

“Today, patients can be delayed by benefit verification, prior authorization, denials, payer routing, affordability checks and network restrictions,” he said, noting that specialty pharmacies are increasingly tracking and working to improve time to therapy.

Skills related to proactive adherence management are also being honed by specialty pharmacies that are focusing on refill patterns, side effect issues, financial risk, therapy interruptions and patientreported concerns to identify patients who are at risk before they discontinue therapy.

“Walgreens’ adherence work highlights clinical management, whole-patient care, financial assistance coordination, digital support and proactive engagement as important levers,” said Mittal.

Specialty pharmacies are also wellpositioned to promote equity of access, he said.

“AJMC [The American Journal of Managed Care] has highlighted pharmacy deserts as a real access issue,” Mittal

added. “Specialty pharmacies can help close this gap if they combine access navigation, patient support, local reach, and better coordination with providers.”

The next generation of specialty care will also be defined by fully interoperable, technology-enabled networks that seamlessly connect manufacturers, providers and pharmacies, according to Prewitt.

“The greatest opportunity to close remaining gaps lies in further integrating the specialty pharmacy directly into the patient’s care delivery model, ensuring dispensing occurs as close to the patient’s community as possible with data flowing across the care team,” he said “By uniting real-world evidence and actionable analytics with coordinated support services delivered in the patient’s community, the industry can deliver a more streamlined therapeutic experience that aligns closely with the clinical team’s management of the patient’s care.”

Indeed, as specialty pharmacies become more deeply integrated into the care delivery model, their value increasingly will be measured by what happens after the prescription is filled.

“The future will not be defined only by who can dispense or ship the drug,” said Mittal. “It will be defined by who can reduce time to therapy, improve adherence, manage side effects, coordinate across stakeholders, and demonstrate measurable patient outcomes.”

—

is i

O

L

L —

l o S s

sc

l

i s.c

ic sio

HEALTH: VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS

A Proactive Approach Consumers are looking for vitamins, minerals and supplements that support specific health and wellness goals

By Kathie Canning

O

nce upon a time, most consumers aimed for three square meals and called it a day. Those days are long gone, however, as many consumers now rely on added vitamins, minerals and other supplements to augment what can be found in their breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

The market reflects that reality. According to a January 2026 report from Grand View Research, the global nutritional supplements sector (including vitamins, minerals and other supplements) was valued at $517 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach more than $862 billion by 2033.

Taking Control The growing popularity of dietary supplements can be tied, at least in part, to one overarching trend: a proactive approach to health and wellness on the part of consumers.

“They are not necessarily waiting until something is wrong; they are looking for practical ways to support how they want to feel and function each day,” said Anita Loomba, senior director of marketing for Lazarus Naturals.

34 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

“

Convenient, approachable formats continue to gain attention, particularly gummies, drink mixes and functional beveragess.”

—Anita Loomba, senior director of marketing, Lazarus Naturals

BUILT FOR WHATS NEXT IN FUNCTIONAL WELLNESS Natural medicine, formulated with research-backed ingredient levels.

LION’S MANE 1200MG

ALPHA GPC 315MG

PANAX GINSENG 400MG

Research suggests Lion’s Mane may support faster thinking and help reduce feelings of stress.¹

In a clinical study, 315mg of Alpha-GPC improved performance on a test of focus and mental processing.²

In a clinical study, 400mg of Panax Ginseng improved measures of memory in healthy adults.³

Our mushroom extracts are made with strictly 100% organic whole mushrooms with no added fillers and have a guaranteed minimum potency of 30% beta-glucan.

wholesale@lazarusnaturals.com

¹ Docherty S, et al. Nutrients. 2023;15(22):4842. ² Kerksick CM, et al. Nutrients. 2024;16(23):4240. ³ Kennedy DO, et al. Nutr Neurosci. 2001;4(4):295–310.

HEALTH: VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Consumers also are more educated than ever, which helps fuel that proactive approach. They want to understand the components in vitamin, mineral and supplement products, as well as how they work, explained Desiree Dowe, vice president of innovation for Pharmavite.

“Consumers today do their research and look for brands with clinical data and endorsements from health care professionals like pharmacists,” she said. “They also embrace guidance from health and wellness experts, in real life and on social media, who educate on novel concepts like microbiome health.”

MegaFood recently introduced Probiotic, Prebiotic & Postbiotic gummies, as well as Prebiotic Fiber gummies.

Seeking Specific Benefits As part of a proactive approach, consumers are turning to dietary supplements to realize specific health benefits.

“Rather than simply looking for a general multivitamin, many consumers are shopping around goals such as better sleep, stress support, cognitive performance, digestive health and healthy aging,” Loomba noted. “That is creating greater interest in functional ingredients—including mushrooms, adaptogens, magnesium, probiotics and other botanicals—that can be incorporated into an everyday wellness routine.”

Creatine, collagen and probiotics also are rising “staple ingredients” in consumers’ quest for targeted health solutions, said Donna Olufade, vice president and head of brand portfolio for Nestlé Health Science.

When it comes to specific health goals, stress management is an especially notable trend within the vitamin, minerals and supplement space, noted Sarah Lombard, chief marketing officer for MegaFood.

“With a growing awareness of the connection between stress and overall health, consumers are increasingly seeking targeted, proactive solutions to support their emotional wellbeing,” she said.

On the healthy aging front, millennials and Gen Z, in particular, show strong interest in longevity-focused ingredients, said Olufade. Those ingredients include nicotinamide mononucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and Urolithin A. Gut health also continues to be a major consumer priority, Lombard said, driving interest in fiber and prebiotics.

36 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

The Nature’s Bounty brand recently launched its Prebiotic+Postbiotic+Probiotic gummies, which offer “triple-action support” of digestive and immune health.

“Fiber is gaining significant momentum as consumers increasingly value and emphasize the connection between digestive health and overall wellbeing,” Olufade added.

Consumers’ interest in fiber goes beyond gut health, however. Consumers believe fiber will support goals such as healthy aging and weight management, too, she pointed out.

Lombard noted that there’s also a growing need for “targeted, science-backed solutions” that tackle microbiome support and other specific aspects of digestive health.

Dowe agreed, pointing to interest in more advanced and specialized biotics strains that aid in digestion but also support immunity and provide other health benefits.

“On the consumer side, we see that science and efficacy have become the top purchase drivers in wellness,” she added.

Format Matters Purchase drivers in the dietary supplement space go beyond science and efficacy, however. Consumers also want product formats that fit in with their lifestyles.

“Convenient, approachable formats continue to gain attention, particularly gummies, drink mixes and functional beverages,” Loomba said. “Consumers want wellness products that feel easier to incorporate into an existing routine and do not necessarily feel like taking another pill.”

Lombard agreed that gummies are trending.

“Within the gummy format, we also see zero-sugar options driving increased accessibility by delivering the convenience and enjoyment of gummies while aligning with consumer preferences for sugar-free solutions,” she said.

Soft chews, meanwhile, represent an emerging format in the category, Olufade

Choose Nature Made to Fuel Growth

®

$154MM in sales growth^ #1 brand in VMS† #1 HHP in VMS‡

Based on a survey of pharmacists who recommend branded vitamins and supplements. ^Circana Market Advantage, MULO+, Dollars Sales Change vs. Year Ago, Latest 52W ending 03/15/2026 †Circana Market Advantage, MULO+, Dollar and Unit Sales Latest 52W ending 03/15/2026 ‡Circana Scan Panel, Household Penetration, Latest 52W ending 02/22/2026

HEALTH: VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS

The Nature Made brand expanded its gut health offerings this year with the introduction of its SuperGreens and Digestive Enzymes products.

The Choice Conundrum Although the continuing expansion of the vitamin, mineral and supplement category brings with it product and format advances, it also has a downside: an abundance of choices. That can confuse and frustrate shoppers scanning the shelves.

“Consumers are looking for targeted solutions, but it can be difficult to compare products, understand ingredients and determine which option best fits their needs,” said Donna Olufade, vice president and head of brand portfolio for Nestlé Health Science.

Drug stores could help shoppers by organizing the space according to “recognizable wellness needs” such as digestion, sleep, healthy aging, stress and cognition, said Anita Loomba, senior director of marketing for Lazarus Naturals.

“Shelf-level education could explain what the key ingredients are, their amounts per serving, the intended use of the formula and relevant quality or testing standards,” she said. “Pharmacist education and QR codes linking to expanded ingredient information, testing documentation or certificates of analysis could provide additional confidence without overcrowding the package.”

Consumers are beginning to turn to AI for product guidance in the segment, so drug stores also will want to support that reality, suggested Desiree Dowe, vice president of innovation for Pharmavite. “We’ll need to work side by side with retailers to adapt to an AI-driven consumer experience,” she said.

38 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

said. They provide an enjoyable sensory experience without being too “candy-like.”

“We’re also seeing interest in formats that have gained popularity internationally,” she noted. “Jelly sticks, which are widely used in parts of Asia, offer a convenient and portable delivery format and could gain traction as U.S. consumers become more familiar with global wellness trends.”

Greens powders, too, are another emerging format, Dowe said. They are a convenient option that combines minerals, vitamins and extracts from green vegetables.

But traditional capsules aren’t going away anytime soon, Loomba stressed. “Capsules remain important for consumers who prioritize simplicity, portability, low or no sugar and precise delivery,” she said.

New and On-Trend A number of new dietary supplements aim to help consumers target their health and wellness goals. For example, Pharmavite’s Nature Made brand expanded its gut health offerings this year with the introduction of its SuperGreens and Digestive Enzymes products, Dowe noted. The former combines kale, spinach and broccoli to “care for the gut while nourishing the body within.” It comes in powder and capsule formats. Digestive Enzymes, meanwhile, offers a “ blend of five enzymes”—amylase, lipase, protease, lactase and cellulase—to break down different types of foods that can cause digestive issues.

Nestlé’s Nature’s Bounty brand also had gut health in mind with the recent launch of its Prebiotic+Postbiotic+Probiotic gummies and Ultra Strength Probiotic 10 capsules. One daily gummy offers “triple-action support” of digestive and immune health, Olufade noted. And one daily capsule contains 20 billion live probiotic cultures to support the body’s natural digestive process.* MegaFood also leaned into the gummy trend with the recent introduction of its Prebiotic Fiber gummies; Probiotic, Prebiotic and Postbiotic gummies; and Ashwagandha gummies. The first product features prebiotic fiber from chicory root, while the second offers a zero-sugar, three-in-one blend to support gut health,* Lombard said. The final product, meanwhile, is a zero-sugar formulation that aims to “reduce stress, cortisol levels and occasional anxiety.”* And Lazarus Naturals recently launched Clarity mushroom gummies, the company’s first CBD-free functional mushroom product. According to Loomba, the black currant gummies combine 1,200 milligrams of Lion’s Mane mushroom extract, 315 milligrams of Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and 400 milligrams of Panax ginseng “to support mental sharpness and everyday productivity.” *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

HEALTH: HOMEPATHIC REPORT

Homeopathic Help Education and visibility are key to sales in this category

By Amanda Baltazar

H

omeopathic products continue to resonate with consumers.

Boiron products are sold nationwide through major drug store chains, mass retailers, natural products stores, independent pharmacies and online retailers.

“Many shoppers enter the store looking for relief from a specific symptom rather than looking specifically for a homeopathic medicine,” said MaryEllen Tefft, the company’s VP of sales.

Consumers appreciate having choices in self-care and many like to start with natural solutions. Grand View Research points out that consumers are increasingly seeking natural products because they’re concerned about the effects of synthetic drugs.

Homeopathic products are doing well in certain OTC segments, according to market research company NielsenIQ. In the upper respiratory remedies category, annual homeopathic sales totaled approximately $277.6 million, while homeopathic

40 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

“

Many shoppers enter the store looking for relief from a specific symptom rather than looking specifically for a homeopathic medicine.”

—MaryEllen Tefft, vice president of sales, FDM, Boiron

N O I T !

A N R E T P S I O G S E I R

NOV 3-4, 2026 CHICAGO MARRIOTT MAGNIFICENT MILE

Coaches’ Corner: Exclusive Access to Industry Leaders Gain direct access to the leaders shaping the future of health, wellness, and beauty. Join our curated, small-group sessions for candid insights, strategic perspective, and real-world wisdom from the industry’s most accomplished voices.

THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS

SECURE YOUR SPOT

MORE TO COME!

VISIT WWW.DSNTOPWOMEN.COM TO LEARN MORE

HEALTH: HOMEPATHIC REPORT

“

We can’t tell people to use our product so we use the studies to show how they can help.”

—Nate Jones, CEO, Xlear

pain relief products reached about $125.5 million, for the year ending June 30. Sales declined modestly, the company reports, versus the prior year, by 3.6% and 2.9%, respectively.

However, according to Stellar Market Research, the global homeopathy market is projected to grow at 6.76% CAGR between now and 2032.

Xlear has one homeopathic product, Max Nasal Spray, 20, which consumers often buy to help with allergies, and it contains capsicum, an antihistamine.

Education is really important for Xlear, so the company spends a lot of time talking to physicians. It also features a lot of information on its website, detailing scientific studies and writing its own blog.

“We can’t tell people to use our product so we use the studies to show how they can help,” said Nate Jones, CEO of Xlear.

Boiron also leans heavily on education “because many consumers are interested in homeopathy but may not yet understand how to select or use the products,” Tefft said.

42 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

Selling in Drug Stores Pharmacies are an important place to reach American shoppers “because they are often where consumers turn first for accessible self-care solutions,” said Tefft.

“Store pharmacists, established health care aisles and convenient locations also make them particularly valuable for educating shoppers about homeopathic medicines and helping them find products.”

Boiron’s products include Arnicare for muscle pain, stiffness, swelling from injuries and bruising; Oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms; Camilia for baby teething symptoms; and ColdCalm (to help with cold symptoms), SleepCalm and StressCalm lines.

Half of Xlear’s Max sales are in pharmacies, typically in the allergy section, though the big win is when they can fit it into both the allergy and cough and cold categories, said Jones.

Ideally, Boiron likes its products to be merchandised within the relevant therapeutic section to make them easy to find. However, there is value to a

dedicated homeopathic section for existing shoppers, she says, and this can allow Boiron to display a broader assortment. But if there’s space, “a hybrid strategy of both is ideal,” she said.

Marketing Matters Homeopathic companies are mostly taking a broad approach to marketing.

Boiron leans on digital advertising, social media, influencer and spokesperson partnerships, educational content, email marketing and retailer programs.

As part of its campaigns, Boiron connects products with relevant lifestyle moments and needs, such as sports recovery, family wellness, cough and cold season, occasional stress and sleeplessness and travel. “The goal is to help consumers understand where homeopathic medicines may fit within their broader approach to self-care,” Tefft pointed out.

But it’s important to reach these consumers in stores, at the time when they’re looking for products, while always keeping education front of mind.

HEALTH: HOMEPATHIC REPORT

BOIRON StressCalm Meltaway Tablets

BOIRON Oscillococcinum Single Dose Tubes

XLEAR Natural Saline Nasal Spray

Boiron likes to feature displays, shelf signage and brochures to help shoppers understand a product’s use, how it differs from other choices and how to read its drug facts label.

But it capitalizes on opportunities throughout the year, too.

Seasonal displays and secondary placements can also introduce products when a particular need is top of mind, such as cough and cold displays, or sleep support around travel or daylightsaving time.

Xlear runs promotions in the first, second and fourth quarters of the year, usually temporary price reductions of 20% to 25%.

“This attracts new users as well as return users because everyone today is conscious of their spending,” said Lois Mizdal, vice president of sales.

“We get anywhere from a 25% to 35% lift in unit volume on promotion depending on the time of year,” she adds. The

44 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

promotions are highlighted through shelf tags.

Boiron’s sales and marketing teams work directly with retailers to develop programs like promotional displays, shelf materials, educational literature, digital content, product training and seasonal marketing programs.

The company also provides information and training that help pharmacists, buyers and store associates better understand the category, which is key.

“That education is important because knowledgeable store teams can help consumers navigate homeopathic medicines with greater confidence,” Tefft said. “Our retailer support has included displays, brochures, product literature, monographs and training materials.”

HEALTH WELLNESS BEAUTY CONNECTED Connect With Your Customers

31,200+ Social Followers

33,000+ Circulation

145,000+

104,000+ Total Unique Newsletter Subscribers

59,000+ AM Daily Newsletter Subscribers

Avg Monthly Website Users

Visit drugstorenews.com/advertise to learn about available advertising options

LAST WORD

Patient-Centered Care Is the New Standard Pharmacies must prioritize personalized experiences that put patients at the center of care

Vanessa Slowey is President and CEO of TelyRx, a technologyenabled healthcare and pharmacy services company.

“

Thousands of pharmacy closures have reduced healthcare access for an estimated 16 million Americans. Limited hours, travel and complicated processes each add a barrier between a patient and a medication they may already take every day.”

Think about an inhaler. A patient has used the same one for years, for a condition they understand, prescribed by a doctor who already knows their history.

They know exactly what they need and yet getting it can still mean clearing a series of hurdles that have nothing to do with their health. That everyday scenario captures a problem millions of Americans face: the hardest part of routine care often isn’t the medicine; it’s everything standing between the patient and the medicine.

Consumers now expect the pharmacy experience to be as easy as banking, shopping or booking travel. People have grown used to industries that offer upfront pricing, a clear process and the ability to complete what they need without unnecessary steps. Pharmacy is being held to that same standard, whether the industry is ready for it or not.

The friction is real. Thousands of

46 September 2026 DRUGSTORENEWS.COM

pharmacy closures have reduced healthcare access for an estimated 16 million Americans. Limited hours, travel and complicated processes each add a barrier between a patient and a medication they may already take every day. Nearly half of chronic-care patients report struggling to stay on treatment because the system still feels fragmented. That’s an access failure, and access failures produce the same bad outcomes as clinical failures.

This matters most for everyday medications—the inhaler, the maintenance prescription, the refill someone has relied on for years. When a patient already knows what they need, every extra step is friction without clinical value.

None of this comes at the expense of clinical integrity. Every prescription request is still independently reviewed by a state-licensed provider, and medications are still fulfilled through licensed

pharmacies held to the same standards patients have always relied on. Digital access reduces friction while preserving the pharmacist’s critical role. We’ve surpassed 1 million prescriptions filled nationwide, approximately 70% of our patients return to the platform, and prescription volume grew 188% year over year. People don’t come back to a healthcare experience out of habit. They come back because it’s reliable, and reliability is what builds trust.

The future belongs to pharmacy organizations that combine trusted clinical care with a seamless, patient-centered experience. Patients aren’t choosing between convenience and quality; they’re choosing organizations that give them both. The platforms that treat convenience as a must-have, not an add-on feature, will be the ones patients keep coming back to.

DON’T LET CUSTOMERS SETTLE FOR HALF THE RELIEF...

Only Rhinase® moisturizes BOTH upper and lower nasal passages for complete nasal relief from dryness.

Rhinase® with Xylitol provides natural and drug-free relief from upper and lower nasal dryness and irritation caused by dry room air, seasonal allergies, chronic sinusitis, CPAP/BiPAP, and colds & flu.

Offer your customers an alternative to products that include unwanted steroids and dyes, or a saline-only product that may not work as well.

Available in Soothing Gel and Lubricating Mist | Visit Rhinase.com to learn more © 2026 Profounda Health and Beauty, Inc.

All rights reserved. All trademarks, registered or otherwise, are the property of their respective owner(s).

DSN-0226

­ ­ ­