Europe

In a major milestone for the EU’s pricing and reimbursement landscape, the European Commission has published the first ever, much anticipated, joint clinical assessment report.

In this episode of the Over the Counter podcast, HBW Insight speaks to Kerry's RDA senior manager of immune and joint health, Sonja Nodland, about the opportunity for innovation that postbiotics represent for the consumer health industry. 

Weak demand for virus-blocking nasal sprays since the pandemic has left Austrian biotech Marinomed with mounting debts. The company has applied for restructuring proceedings with an Austrian court in an attempt to secure its future.

Perrigo aims its new SolpaOne high-strength paracetamol effervescent at UK pharmacists, who now have expanded powers as part of the UK government's Pharmacy First initiative. 

OTC erectile dysfunction treatment Eroxon has made it to the Nordics through local distributor Navamedic, which has reported strong consumer uptake.

A round-up of the latest global health and wellness moves: Nestlé and Dr Reddy's name JV head; Be-sup hires comms and regulatory director; Ascendis Health appoints interim CFO.

David Ball moves from Bayer’s North America business to be Perrigo’s first chief brand and digital officer. He joins CEO who also moved to Perrigo from Bayer with decades of branded product experience.

Dietary supplements containing unauthorized novel foods were reported to the European Commission by national regulators on around 40 occasions in the second quarter of 2024.

Germany's Alzchem failed to convince the UK's health claims committee that daily creatine supplementation can contribute to improved cognitive function. 

HBW Insight presents a new series profiling regulatory affairs specialists working in or supporting the consumer health and cosmetics industries. In this first installment, we speak to AESGP's Christelle Anquez-Traxler and Oliver Hartmann, senior regulatory science & strategy lead, and regulatory & legal affairs director respectively. 

A round-up of the latest moves in Europe's consumer health industry: Galenica names head of new Products & Home Care business unit; Haleon appoints general counsel; Alliance Pharma eliminates COO role.

OTC sales edged up at Italy's Recordati in the first half of 2024 as higher demand for GI products and supplements offset a weaker cold & flu season.

OTC sales edged up at Italy's Recordati in the first half of 2024 as higher demand for GI products and supplements offset a weaker cold & flu season.

Round-up of the latest appointments in the health and wellness markets outside the US: Bayer names joint LATAM/APAC president; Haleon adds directors to board; Bionorica hires global marketing head.

Germany's Expert Committee on Prescription recommends the Rx-to-OTC switch of an azelastine and fluticasone propionate combination nasal spray, the second time around. Low-cost smoking cessation drug cytisine, on the other hand, is denied - also the second time it has appeared before the committee.  

Plant-based digestive health remedy Iberogast, alongside Bepanthen Derma and Supradyn dietary supplements, are the brands currently driving sales growth at Bayer Consumer Health, according to the firm's Q2 financial report.

Consumer health, particularly food supplements that make unauthorized medical or health claims, has been a key area of focus for the UK Advertising Standards Authority's recently introduced Active Ad Monitoring system, which captures ads by relevant advertisers from a range of social media platforms, and applies machine learning algorithms to identify and flag likely non-compliant ads, which are then sent to experts to review and act on. This infographic highlights recent ASA rulings against ads for supplements claiming to treat anxiety and stress, menopause, autism/ADHD and weight loss, which were flagged by AI.

Unauthorized medical or health claims for dietary supplements are a key focus area for the UK advertising regulator's new AI-powered Active Ad monitoring system. HBW Insight speaks to the ASA’s head of data science, Adam Davison, in this exclusive interview to find out more about the organization's journey towards pre-emptive regulation. 

Don't miss out on a chance to win an OTC Marketing Award. The entry deadline is fast approaching ahead of the presentation ceremony in London later this year.

OTC private label/store brand product giant’s Q2 net sales down 10.7% to $1.1bn, but women’s health product sales jump 31.4% largely on Opill launched late in Q1. Biggest hit to results from infant formula business, down a reported 82% due to ongoing manufacturing quality-control remediation.