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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Internet pharmacy rebound foreseen

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 06/17/2008 3:25 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Daren Jorgenson, Internet pharmacy pioneer and fledgling property developer, said he expects the next president of the United States will reverse the troubles encountered by the Canadian Internet pharmacy industry.

Jorgenson said that either the Democrats' Barack Obama or the Republicans' John McCain would likely introduce legislation that will allow the Canadian Internet industry to rebound.

"Both Obama and McCain are on record being very supportive of re-importation of medications so we hope this will lead to an explosion (in the Internet pharmacy business)... and the jobs for Manitobans that go with it," Jorgenson said.

It was just four years ago when Jorgenson announced he was pumping $2 million into a group of North Main properties to establish canadameds.com. Across the street, Jorgenson bought two existing walk-in clinics and a pharmacy and then opened a third walk-in clinic.

With booming sales to the U.S., all the Internet pharmacy operators got rich quick -- but it didn't last.

With the pharmaceutical industry applying pressure to both the Canadian and American governments, the Internet pharmacists were forced to scale back their operations. Those that didn't close shifted operations overseas.

Jorgenson said he sold canadameds.com and is concentrating on sales to large American customers.

Jorgenson is shifting his Internet operations to the Exchange District. He sold the pharmacy to Rexall but he still hopes to expand his medical operations on the west side of Main Street.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 17, 2008 $sourceSection$sourcePage

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