As consolidation marches ahead in the healthfield, the call for stronger anti-trust reviews ofpotential merger is heightening.

The latest: Walgreens’ proposed purchase of mega-rival Rite Aid.Driven in large measure by the desire to combine the two retailers’pharmacy operations, the merger has drawn considerable attentionfrom those concerned about escalating prescription drug costs.

On the surface, the deal would seem to be a great one for allshareholders involved. Walgreens is performing well from a P&Lstandpoint, having just concluded a very profitable quarter andfiscal year. The Street seems to support the move: Rite Aid’sstock, which had been nearly dead, has peaked of late, andWalgreens has traded in a historically strong range.

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.