By Jason Roberson

May 6, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. updated its $4 drug program Monday to include orders for 90-day supplies, additional drugs to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer and more than 1,000 popular over-the-counter drugs at less than 50 percent of the cost.

Wal-Mart said that Texans have saved $149 million since Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) started its $4 drug program in September 2006 and that Dallas-Fort Worth customers have saved nearly $46 million.

George Bulo, a 65-year-old disabled geophysicist in Plano, is one of those customers. Recovering from heart surgery on Aug. 2, 1995, left him with a $1,300 monthly medication bill -- 13 pills every morning and eight pills at night. With Wal-Mart's program, many of his drugs are $4; he has saved more than 40 percent on his monthly medication bill.

"I wish all pharmacies would do that so people like me can afford it," Mr. Bulo said.

Heavy customer volumes create purchasing power to keep costs low, said Bill Simon, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wal-Mart's stores division.

The changes to Wal-Mart's drug program include:

-- Enhanced $4 Prescription Program -- Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sam's Club pharmacies will fill prescriptions for up to 350 generic medications at $10 for a 90-day supply. There is no need to sign up for a pharmacy discount card.

-- Additional women's health medicines -- such as Alendronate, a new generic version of Fosamax used to treat osteoporosis, and tamoxifen and estrogen/methyltestosterone to treat breast cancer, menopause and hormone deficiency -- will cost $9 for up to a 30-day supply and $24 for a 90-day supply.

-- New $4 over-the-counter offerings include commonly used medicines such as the Equate brand of popular drugs like Zantac, Pepcid and Claritin.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0046-25033076