LA MESA, Calif., Dec. 14, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Nicodrops, Inc. (Pink Sheets:NCDP), developer of the world's first drug-free, non-nicotine smoking cessation lozenge, today announced an agreement with CVS Pharmacies (NYSE:CVS) which will place their product in over 4,000 CVS stores coast to coast. Nicodrops has commenced shipping product to CVS Pharmacy warehouse distribution centers throughout the U.S.
"Being able to sign the first major distribution agreement with the nation's largest U.S. drug chain demonstrates the tremendous interest we are receiving from the retail community at large," said Christopher Calpito, president and CEO of Nicodrops, Inc. "To say that the agreement with CVS gives us a major jump start in our marketing efforts is an understatement. Now is the perfect time of year for us to take full advantage of people's new year's resolutions to stop smoking by offering them an all-natural, cost effective, proven product. Once consumers see how well Nicodrops works, we believe the potential demand can be overwhelming making Nicodrops a permanent fixture of the CVS inventory."
Calpito said Nicodrop's per unit retail cost is 49 1/2 cents per Unit (lozenge) versus 61 cents for Nicorette gum and 85 cents per Comitt lozenge.
"This is the very First Drug Free stop smoking aid lozenge to hit the retail shelves anywhere," said Joel Appel, Director of Marketing and sales for Nicodrops. "We plan on reaping the rewards of the aggressive anti-smoking campaigns currently taking place in the U.S, Europe and Canada by promoting Nicodrops as the lower priced, faster acting drug free solution to quit smoking," he continued. "Priced at $9.99 Nicodrops is easily affordable compared to the other Drug Based (gum, patch and lozenge) products which have Initial start-up costs of $45.00 to $60.00. In addition to getting the products in retail outlets, we are simultaneously initiating an aggressive marketing and advertising campaign to build product and brand name awareness."
For over 40 years, CVS has been part of the dynamic growth in the retail pharmacy industry. CVS has over 4,100 pharmacy stores nationwide, an online pharmacy (CVS.com) and PharmaCare Management Services, a pharmacy benefit management and specialty pharmacy subsidiary.
Nicodrops Inc., headquartered in La Mesa, CA, has developed the world's first drug-free, non-nicotine product which allows smokers to give up their habit faster and at a lower cost than their major competitors without the adverse side effects of nicotine. Nicodrops is an all-natural herb lozenge which helps to calm the nervous anxiety that is brought on by nicotine addiction. The company's lozenge products are based on patent protected proprietary technology which offers a safer alternative to all other nicotine based products in the marketplace today.