DEERFIELD, Ill., 2016-Jul-08 — /EPR Retail News/ — Walgreens, one of the largest drugstore chains in the USA and included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), will participate in the USA Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) Cohort Program through an initial $20 million grant awarded to The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Walgreens will help support patient enrollment and participation in the program through its daily interactions with more than 8 million customers in stores, online and through its mobile app. The award will total almost $120 million over five years and is part of President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, one of the most ambitious medical research programs in the history of American medicine aimed at revolutionizing how researchers, providers and research participants work together to develop individualized care.
The PMI Cohort Program is a landmark longitudinal research effort that aims to engage 1 million or more USA participants to improve the ability of preventing and treating disease based on individual differences in lifestyle, environment and genetics. Participants will share their health history and status, genomic and other biological information, and grant access to their clinical data from electronic health records. In addition, mobile health devices and apps will provide lifestyle data and environmental exposures in real time. The knowledge gained from the program is expected to extend successes of precision medicine in some cancers to many other diseases and also increase an individual’s chances of remaining healthy throughout life.
“As a trusted health care resource to the millions of customers and patients we see every day, Walgreens will help launch this important program that can lead to delivering the right treatments at the right time to help people live longer, happier and healthier lives,” said Co-Chief Operating Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance Alex Gourlay. “Our participation is an example of how Walgreens Boots Alliance can contribute to public-private partnerships to pioneer precision medicine and other digital health advances.”
With this funding award, Walgreens will offer customers enrollment in the PMI Cohort Program at its stores, at Walgreens Healthcare Clinics, online through Walgreens.com and through the Walgreens mobile app. For those who enroll, Walgreens also can schedule their initial appointment for the program.
“Walgreens and our other Walgreens Boots Alliance businesses have a long commitment to implementing innovative digital tools to improve the health and wellbeing of our customers we serve every day,” said Giovanni Monti, vice president and director of healthcare innovation for Walgreens Boots Alliance. “Our participation in the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program will help shape the future of pharmacy by developing more precise medications, also based on a person’s specific genetic code and other biological information and lifestyle, that can reduce side effects and drug interactions while increasing their effectiveness. In addition to delivering the PMI in Walgreens, we are keen to further engage internationally to support the pursuit of precision medicine.”
Notes to Editors:
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led, health and well being enterprise.
The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.
Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination in the USA and Europe and, together with its equity method investments*, employs more than 370,000* people and has a presence in more than 25* countries. Walgreens Boots Alliance is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and well being retail with over 13,100* stores in 11* countries. The company includes one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks with over 350* distribution centers delivering to more than 200,000** pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in 19* countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.
The company’s portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle and Soap & Glory.
* As at 31 August 2015 (without subsequent adjustment for business acquisitions or dispositions), including equity method investments
** For 12 months ended 31 August 2015 (without subsequent adjustment for business acquisitions or dispositions), including equity method investments
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Source: Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.