Over The Counter 11 Sept 2023: Trends Shaping The OTC Industry Today, With BSS Consulting’s Birgit Schuhbauer
In the second part of HBW Insight’s exclusive interview with OTC industry veteran Birgit Schuhbauer, we discuss the trends that will shape the future of consumer health. Drawing on her extensive experience in OTC, most recently as global vice president of J&J’s Self Care franchise and president of the AESGP, Schuhbauer gives her views on consumer shifts towards self-care and prevention, digitalization and e-commerce, supply chain resilience and sustainability. Schuhbauer also offers an insiders perspective on moves by companies like Kenvue and Haleon to spin out as independent OTC players, and the implications for Rx-to-OTC switch.
More from Europe
While uncertainty might reign in the UK consumer health market - which grew by by 8% to £4.1bn ($5.3bn) in 2024 - “opportunity is everywhere” according to NielsenIQ health and beauty insights manager Alex Heffernan.
HBW Insight catches up with PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls to chat about the association's new five year plan. Riddalls also reflects on the successes of the last five years, including relaunching the UK Reclassification Alliance, which has published a list of Rx-to-OTC switches the government would like to see applications for. Part one of two.
Two AESGP papers reviewing the evidence for AMR risk associated with a range of OTC antifungals and antivirals conclude there is litte to no risk associated with the responsible self-care use of such medicines.
HBW Insight speaks to AESGP director general Jurate Švarcaite about what's on the agenda for the upcoming 61st AESGP Annual Meeting, which will take place in Warsaw, Poland, between 2-4 June. Highlights include the role of prevention in self-care, discussions about how regulators will ensure the competitiveness of European industry on the world stage and incoming changes to sustainability legislation.
More from Geography
HBW Insight speaks to AESGP director general Jurate Švarcaite about what's on the agenda for the upcoming 61st AESGP Annual Meeting, which will take place in Warsaw, Poland, between 2-4 June. Highlights include the role of prevention in self-care, discussions about how regulators will ensure the competitiveness of European industry on the world stage and incoming changes to sustainability legislation.
“Overall, no unexpected/new data or findings” were presented to Germany's Expert Committee for Prescription in the most recent Rx-to-OTC switch application for sildenafil (25mg and 50mg), according to medicines regulator BfArM, resulting in a third rejection in three years.
“Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. It is unfair to expect only two sectors to fund wastewater treatment modernization and operation,” argues AESGP director general Jurate Švarcaite.