CVS To Stop Selling Tobacco, Sacrificing $2 Billion In Sales

[Roger_Lafayette]

<snip> Most nicotine liquids are indeed derived from tobacco, but does this make it a 'tobacco product'?. This is the question that's been holding back the FDA approval

What products are considered to be tobacco products as defined by the tobacco control act? implies that the answer is "yes." I haven't yet heard anything about why the FDA keeps postponing their regulations. Can you give us a source on that, please?

They would rather integrate e-cigs into the existing taxation and regulation structure used on tobacco cigarettes than address the actual issue of a formal definition and approval for smoking cessation.

My understanding is that the FDA can only approve a therapy if/when requested by the manufacturer (who can't claim any therapuetic benefit until then). The smoking cessation therapy requirements already exist. However the FDA may regulate any (non-therapuetic) 'tobacco product' whenever it pleases: http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes....in-appeals-ruling/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

I know many people who only vape synthetic nicotine for this very reason.

No such animal is commercially-available for human consumption, as far as I know ...

 

[Kryyptyk]

As far as the synthetic nic, it's DIY. I believe they extract it from pharmaceutical grade patches iirc, though don't quote me on that. While not technically 'synthetic', that's how it is commonly referred to, as its processed to such an extreme to remove all traces of tobacco.

 

[Roger_Lafayette]

As far as the synthetic nic, it's DIY. I believe they extract it from pharmaceutical grade patches iirc, though don't quote me on that. While not technically 'synthetic', that's how it is commonly referred to, as its processed to such an extreme to remove all traces of tobacco.

Well, don't quote me on this, either but my lay person's understanding is that tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are present in all three types of commercially-available products intended for human consumption which are designed to deliver nicotine ... viz. this mutually-excusive and mutually-exaustive list: (1) those approved for cessation therapy by the FDA; (2) those regulated by the FDA under sec. 900 of the FDCA (i.e. non-therapeutic); and of course (3) PVs.

While there may be some remaining non-compliant CVS stores that still sell PVs, my conjecture is that present CVS policy may eventually only permit items in the first category. Put simply: products intended to provide nicotine to the consumer will only be allowed in CVS stores unless approved by the FDA as (cessation) therapy.

This is precisely the ANTZ position - except that ANTZ would prefer to see a similar stance adopted by all retail outlets, not just pharmacies (preferably even statutorily-mandated, were such a scenario feasible).

Any similarity between CVS policy and the ANTZ view - or any philosophical incongruence between the treatment of nicotine and alcohol (or proccessed sugar for that matter) - is ... as they say ... "entirely coincidental"

You know some interesting people.

 

[progg]

The CVS Powers That Be are obviously assured of making up for that lost revenue, otherwise they know they'd have a shareholder revolt on their hands. I'm thinking two things are at work here: someone, or several someones, in the head office has a personal agenda at work; and no doubt Big Pharma (and likely a few alphabets as well, and probably even some health insurance carriers) have been pushing for just such a move. That the ANTZ are in the mix somewhere is beyond question, IMO. A perfect storm of agendas, if you will...

Along with their efforts toward enlarging their medicine 'preferred provider' status they've continually positioned themselves to be a player in chasing the Corporatist booty.

The panel, “The Walk-In Clinic Revolution” will include Dr. Andrew Sussman, Senior Vice President and Associate Chief Medical Officer at CVS Caremark (CVS), the nation’s biggest player in retail medicine with plans to have 1,500 clinics operating by 2017.

The Forbes Healthcare Summit 2013: The Walk-In Clinic Revolution And Obamacare - Forbes

 

[Jman8]

It is interesting to me how much I liked CVS before this news, and how much that has changed as a result of this news. I'm not the type to boycott or hate on something so much to claim "well, I won't be going there again." Pretty sure though, I'll be going less. Most of their other stuff is more expensive than what store a mile away was selling. Smokes were not. I'm still moderate smoker.

Used to go in there last summer and get smokes and sometimes a soda. 16oz bottle of soda = $1.69. 1 liter of exact same brand of soda = $.99. That always made me scratch my head, especially when I'd know the price comparison and still got the smaller size. Imagine if it were a pack of smokes = $7, 3 packs of smokes = $5. Or 1 box of nicorette gum (100 pc) = $50, another box of same gum (250 pc) = $35.

 

[Jman8]

Btw, while searching for soda prices on cvs.com and not finding that, I did find this eCig article:

[url]http://health.cvs.com/%GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3&chunkiid=650334[/url]

(chose to break link per forum policy - added % sign before "Get Content")

 

[2coils]

Btw, while searching for soda prices on cvs.com and not finding that, I did find this eCig article:

[url]http://health.cvs.com/%GetContent.aspx?token=f75979d3-9c7c-4b16-af56-3e122a3f19e3&chunkiid=650334[/url]

(chose to break link per forum policy - added % sign before "Get Content")

Wasn't a bad piece until the section on potential harms. Then the good ole lingering FDA study pops up! We can't ever escape this damn study. Thats why this attack is so damaging. People tend to remember the propaganda more so than the good. Its crippling and the ANTZ are good at using it to their benefit!

 

[Stubby]

As far as the synthetic nic, it's DIY. I believe they extract it from pharmaceutical grade patches iirc, though don't quote me on that. While not technically 'synthetic', that's how it is commonly referred to, as its processed to such an extreme to remove all traces of tobacco.

That is simply false. There is no rational reason to extract nicotine from patches as it would be ridiculously expensive. Besides that the same nicotine is available on the market at a fraction of the cost. All nicotine used in e-liquid is extracted from tobacco. If anyone tells you otherwise they are lying.

Carl Phillips has a good piece on CVS

CVS and cigarettes, an embarrassing Rorschach test | Anti-THR Lies and related topics

 

[twgbonehead]

CVS is aiming at a bigger market:

Quote: (emphasis mine)
Among CVS’ newer offerings: a deal with insurers through which patients who have not filled a needed prescription, like a hypertension drug, are given counseling from a pharmacist if they show up wanting something else, like an antibiotic. This is possible because CVS has records of both in-store and mail-order prescriptions; unfilled prescriptions cost the medical system $300 billion annually, CVS says. Another new product will help patients sign up for expensive drugs for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and other “specialty” conditions, help them figure out how to pay for them, and allow them to either get them in the mail or pick them up at a CVS story.
(End of Quote)

The playbook that CVS is shooting for is fairly transparent. They're looking to transform themselves into a health-care provider, tap more directly into federal and insurance compensation, and apparently sidestep HIPA "for the patient's own good". Go to CVS to buy a newspaper, and when you scan your cvs card, the cashier can hassle you about why you haven't renewed your ...... prescription! (Well, maybe only if you talk to a pharmacist, but what's to prevent the alert popping up at the cashier, "Please ask the customer to see the pharmacist before leaving the store"?

Dropping cigarettes is just a necessary pre-condition; and while it might be $2B in revenue, it's probably one of the lowest profit-margin items on their shelves. And given the hype, was probably worth at least $2B in advertising.

 

[progg]

A bigger, faux market --

CVS's PBM revenue improved 7.8% to $19.5 billion in the third quarter, aided by better-than-expected claims volume through the Maintenance Choice Program, and a robust specialty drugs business. CVS boasts a unique position as the only retail drug store chain that is also a PBM, an attribute which helps the company to offer benefits of scale to its clients.

CVS has a 30% share in the managed Medicaid market. The firm will continue to benefit from the expansion of the Medicaid program, which is expected to grow by a roaring 40% annual clip through 2016.

Why Obamacare Won't Stand in the Way of CVS Caremark in 2014 - Fool.com