Europe

Energy, immunity and women's health supplements were in particular demand in 2024, according to French self-care industry association NèreS.

Available in UK pharmacies and supermarkets, Panmigrol’s “triple-action formulation” provides more effective migraine relief than standard ibuprofen or sumatriptan tablets, manufacturer Haleon claims.

At a recent European Parliament event, IPA Europe called on EU institutions to “prioritize proportional and coherent rules on the European probiotic food and food market, to ensure EU policies are fit for competitiveness.”

Cooper takes another step in its international expansion strategy through a partnership with Romania’s MagnaPharm for the distribution and commercialization of its self-care brand portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Increased openness about sexual health and wellness, Rx-to-OTC switches and NPD at leading companies, and easy access to products online are driving the growth of Europe's sexual health market, according to Euromonitor International.

Electronic product information should be “fully operational” within four years after the entry into force of the revised EU pharma legislation and should precede the phasing out of paper leaflets, proposes the Inter-Association Taskforce (IATF) on ePI. Once the new system is up and running, ePI should be implemented across the EU in a harmonized way, with all EU member states adopting the same standard, it says.

“The SVA has missed an opportunity to make an important contribution to patient safety and to strengthening personal responsibility,” commented Pharma Deutschland deputy general manager Elmar Kroth.

With its new CanesMeno range, Bayer Consumer Health wants to help the estimated 13m women in the UK who are currently perimenopausal or menopausal.

The Aurelius-owned distributor will create a new business unit especially for this purpose, headed up by business director Patrik Hene.

OTC Medical is now the distributor in the Netherlands of Serrix’s self-care brands, including fungal nail brand Mycosan, zinc-based cold sore treatment SoreFiX and children’s skincare brand donttellmum.

A recent ASA case involving an ad for vape products shows that marketers shouldn’t assume that professional online networks like LinkedIn are any different to other social media platforms when it comes to UK advertising codes.

Today, Germany's switch committee, the SVA, will consider an application for exemption from requirement for sildenafil in 25mg and 50mg strengths. This is the third time the switch has been put to the committee, which has rejected it twice before.

Developed using Datair's Ambee climate data technology, Opella’s Pollen Passport presents users with an easy to use and interactive online visualization of air quality at holiday destinations across the world.

IPA Europe responds critically to recent EU Ombudsman's decision that the EC’s position in relation to probiotics is “reasonable". “While we respect the Ombudsman’s role, its conclusions fail to address the main critical concerns raised by stakeholders,” the association insists.

Offer valuing struggling UK consumer health player Alliance at £350m has the backing of the company's board of directors.

In response to an IPA Europe complaint, European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly finds that the Commission’s interpretation of EU food legislation in relation to probiotics is “reasonable and in line with the main goal of this legislation, which is to ensure a high level of consumer protection.”

PAGB CEO Michelle Riddalls and ISF president emeritus David Webber have been awarded OBEs for their services to consumer health and self-care.

A recent Kenvue survey shows that an overwhelming majority of UK pharmacists believe many health issues could be prevented through better self-care.

Oral pseudoephedrine decongestants marketed by Kenuve, Haleon and Opella, amongst others, are now only available with a doctor's prescription in France.

Bayer Consumer Health snaps up digital therapeutic Cara Care for its Precision Health business with an eye to developing its self-care capabilities.