Opella Goes Solo Promising To ‘Redefine The Future Of Self-Care’

 
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Private equity firm CD&R takes control of Opella while Sanofi retains a sizeable stake and nets €10bn.

PharmaSGP Targets More Of The Same As It Outperforms OTC Market

 
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Germany-based firm grew three-times faster than the OTC pharmacy market in 2024 and is hoping to continue this momentum in 2025.

OTCs Are ‘Beacon Of Hope’ For Austrian Pharmacy

 
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Just under half of Austrian pharmacists surveyed by Elpato Medien are “convinced that the OTC business will ensure the survival of their pharmacy.”

Reckitt Leans On Intimate Wellness Brands As OTC Stumbles

 
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Gains for its Intimate Wellness portfolio - including a strong showing from Durex - helped offset lower sales of Reckitt's OTC cold & flu remedies in Q1. CEO Kris Licht shared his thoughts on the impact of US tariffs on the business and planned future divestments.


US Consumer Health Market People News: CHPA Foundation Contest, Celsius And AdvoCare Hires

 

CHPA Health In Hand Foundation accepting nominations for 2025 US Self-Care Marketing Awards; Celsius hires former PepsiCo as president/COO and closes $1.8bn acquisition of energy drink competitor Alani; and AdvoCare adds John Peirano as integrated marketing VP after hiring Kathy Blosser supply chain VP.

US Q1 Consumer Health Earnings Preview: Concern Unavoidable For Impact From ‘T’ Word

 

Concern is unavoidable for most marketers of OTC drugs and dietary supplements in the US. As Canaccord Genuity analysts said in a 15 April research note, “uncertainty remains about how the tariff situation will play out.”

Over The Counter: Brands, Brexit And New Self-Care Business Models, With PAGB’s Michelle Riddalls

 
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HBW Insight catches up with UK OTC industry association CEO Michelle Riddalls to talk about digital self-care and the unrealized promise of Brexit - part 2.

Euro Q1 Consumer Health Earnings Preview: Haleon, Reckitt, Bayer

 
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Major Europe-based consumer health players Haleon, Reckitt and Bayer feature in this sales and earnings preview, which highlights what to look out for as these three firms report their Q1 2025 results over the coming weeks.


Futura Records First Profits And Targets Eroxon Extension

 
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The US launch of Eroxon ED treatment by Haleon helped Futura Medical record its first ever profit in 2024. The UK firm will now look to capitalize this by seeking US and EU approval for a more potent Eroxon line extension.

Australia’s Wellnex Life Poised To Enter UK’s CHC Market

 
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Wellnex bringing brands such as Pain Away, Wakey Wakey and Nighty Night to UK market shortly after gaining admission to the the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

That Loud Noise Echoing In US OTC Hearing Aid Market? Merger Of Eargo And HearX

 

The firms recently announced they will operate as combined company LXE Hearing marketing Eargo’s namesake line and hearX’s Lexie brands. Eargo majority owner Patient Square Capital added $100m to its investment.

People On The Move: Appointments At Maxwellia, Nestlé, Alland & Robert

 
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A round-up of the latest European health & wellness market moves: Maxwellia names chief operating officer; Nestle appoints marketing & sales head; Alland & Robert gets deputy general manager.


Pharma Still Nervous While Riding Trump’s Tariff Rollercoaster

 

The rollout of Trump’s plan has been a policy whiplash, but despite a 90-day pause on tariffs, the US president still appears to be holding a grudge with industry over drug pricing.

KKR Expands Health & Beauty Portfolio With Deal For Sweden’s Karo

 
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Consumer health player Karo is changing hands from EQT to KKR in a deal thought to value the Stockholm-based firm at over €2.5bn.

‘The Only Certainty Is Uncertainty’ In The UK’s Consumer Health Market

 
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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.

France’s Boiron Looks To Future After Challenging Year

 
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The homeopathy specialist reported a big decline in profits in 2024 as a move to restructure its ailing French operation hit the bottom line.


Over The Counter: Evolving The UK Consumer Health Industry, With PAGB’s Michelle Riddalls

 
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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.

Reducing Complexity Helps Weleda Break Sales Record

 
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Swiss firm reports highest revenues in its history as restructure pays off for its pharma and cosmetics businesses in 2024.

End Of Year Recovery Ensures Recordati’s OTC Business Keeps Growing

 
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Jump in cough & cold sales at the end of the year helps Recordati post higher OTC revenues for 2024.

Alfasigma Seeking Slice Of EU’s Largest OTC Market With German Launch

 
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Italy's Alfasigma has expanded its operation in Germany with the creation of a new Consumer Healthcare unit. Led by Rüdiger Hoppe, the business is rolling out OTC medical devices and dietary supplements in the gastrointestinal category.