Ralphs expands discounted generic drug program

[BabyBlissProducts]

RALPHS EXPANDS DISCOUNTED GENERIC DRUG PROGRAM

Supermarket Company Offers 90-day Prescriptions for $10

and Increases the Number of Women’s Health Medications Offered at a Discount

LOS ANGELES, CA – (May 14, 2008) – Starting today, Ralphs in-store pharmacies will expand its generic drug program – offering customers lower prices and additional drug choices to meet their health needs. The retailer is offering 90-day prescriptions for only $10 on its expanded generic drug program. Ralphs pharmacies are also increasing the number of women’s health medications offered at a discounted price.
This new initiative expands the program Ralphs introduced in April that provides a $4 price for hundreds of generic drugs prescribed in 30-day supplies. It also complements several other programs Ralphs is offering customers to help them stretch their household budgets, including:

· Ralphs tax relief gift card program that offers customers free groceries when they turn their economic stimulus checks or direct deposits into Ralphs gift cards.
· Ralphs unmatched line of quality private label products offered at great prices.

“Our expanded generic drug program is another example of the many ways we at Ralphs are making it easier for customers to stretch their dollars farther for the staples they need for their families,” said Mike Donnelly, President of Ralphs Supermarkets. “Our customers can continue to rely on the expert health counsel and friendly service Ralphs’ team of professional pharmacists consistently offer.”

Expanded Women’s Health Generics

Ralphs said it is also increasing the number of women’s health medications it offers at a discounted price. They include drugs such as tamoxifen to treat breast cancer, combination estrogen/methyltestosterone for hormone replacement, as well as Alendronate, the generic version of osteoporosis medication Fosamax®.

To Learn More
For more information about the expanded drugs/medications available, please visit www.ralphs.com/generic or call 1-877-4RX-LIST (1-877-479-5478).
Customers interested in these low-price generic drugs should consult their doctor or their neighborhood Ralphs pharmacy to determine if a generic drug is available for their prescription and is right for them. These discounted prescriptions are available in Ralphs store pharmacies and for on-line and telephone orders for customers to pick up in store.

About Generic Drugs
Generic drugs are as safe and effective as brand name drugs (according to federal law, they must be therapeutically equivalent to brand name drugs) yet cost significantly less. After a company’s exclusive right to market a medication expires, other companies are allowed to develop generic equivalents – usually at a much lower cost.
Due to state laws, certain drugs are priced higher than $4 (for up to 30-day supplies) and $10 (for 90-day supplies) in California.

About Ralphs
Ralphs, based in Los Angeles, was founded in 1873 and currently operates 266 supermarkets and 90 pharmacies in California and employs 25,000 associates. In 2007, the company donated more than $10 million to the local communities it serves. Ralphs is a division of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Ralphs, visit www.ralphs.com.

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[jimmy03]

Originally Posted by BabyBlissProducts RALPHS EXPANDS DISCOUNTED GENERIC DRUG PROGRAM Supermarket Company Offers 90-day Prescriptions for $10 and Increases the Number of Women’s Health Medications Offered at a Discount LOS ANGELES, CA – (May 14, 2008) – Starting today, Ralphs in-store pharmacies will expand its generic drug program – offering customers lower prices and additional drug choices to meet their health needs. The retailer is offering 90-day prescriptions for only $10 on its expanded generic drug program. Ralphs pharmacies are also increasing the number of women’s health medications offered at a discounted price. This new initiative expands the program Ralphs introduced in April that provides a $4 price for hundreds of generic drugs prescribed in 30-day supplies. It also complements several other programs Ralphs is offering customers to help them stretch their household budgets, including: · Ralphs tax relief gift card program that offers customers free groceries when they turn their economic stimulus checks or direct deposits into Ralphs gift cards. · Ralphs unmatched line of quality private label products offered at great prices. “Our expanded generic drug program is another example of the many ways we at Ralphs are making it easier for customers to stretch their dollars farther for the staples they need for their families,” said Mike Donnelly, President of Ralphs Supermarkets. “Our customers can continue to rely on the expert health counsel and friendly service Ralphs’ team of professional pharmacists consistently offer.” Expanded Women’s Health Generics Ralphs said it is also increasing the number of women’s health medications it offers at a discounted price. They include drugs such as tamoxifen to treat breast cancer, combination estrogen/methyltestosterone for hormone replacement, as well as Alendronate, the generic version of osteoporosis medication Fosamax®. To Learn More For more information about the expanded drugs/medications available, please visit www.ralphs.com/generic or call 1-877-4RX-LIST (1-877-479-5478). Customers interested in these low-price generic drugs should consult their doctor or their neighborhood Ralphs pharmacy to determine if a generic drug is available for their prescription and is right for them. These discounted prescriptions are available in Ralphs store pharmacies and for on-line and telephone orders for customers to pick up in store. About Generic Drugs Generic drugs are as safe and effective as brand name drugs (according to federal law, they must be therapeutically equivalent to brand name drugs) yet cost significantly less. After a company’s exclusive right to market a medication expires, other companies are allowed to develop generic equivalents – usually at a much lower cost. Due to state laws, certain drugs are priced higher than $4 (for up to 30-day supplies) and $10 (for 90-day supplies) in California. About Ralphs Ralphs, based in Los Angeles, was founded in 1873 and currently operates 266 supermarkets and 90 pharmacies in California and employs 25,000 associates. In 2007, the company donated more than $10 million to the local communities it serves. Ralphs is a division of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Ralphs, visit www.ralphs.com. ###

A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), generic drugs are identical or bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use [1]. In most cases, generic products are available once the patent protections afforded to the original developer have expired. When generic products become available, the market competition often leads to substantially lower prices for both the original brand name product and the generic forms. The time it takes a generic drug to appear on the market varies. In the US, drug patents give twenty years of protection, but they are applied for before clinical trials begin, so the effective life of a drug patent tends to be between seven and twelve years.