E-Commerce

“It is shifting so quickly. It's shifting underneath our feet,” says NielsenIQ wellness VP Sherry Frey. Even comparing the past year to the preceding eight, “it's just accelerating quicker and quicker, and one of the biggest areas is online.”

Direct seller has deals to fully acquire and 51% ownership of Link BioSciences, which formulates personalized supplements. It also announced a deal to acquire Pruvit Ventures, ketone supplements direct seller.

AI prowess “will not be a competitive advantage long-term. It's going to be table stakes. But there are people who are going to get there sooner and they will have an advantage for a while,” says C&D CEO Matthew Farrell. P&G’s investment in AI, meanwhile, produced its “Great Idea Generator proprietary platform.”

After launching Retaine MGD Advanced, OcuSoft says a release by Bruder Healthcare referenced Retaine MGD trademark and statements from a previous OcuSoft announcement about the original product attributed to an optometrist. B+L, Rohto brand and homeopathic firm Relief Products also make US OTC eye care space moves.

Perelel acquiring Loom online platform providing reproductive health, sexual wellness and parenting education. First direct-to-consumer product for Curive Healthcare’s Plum brand formulated for vaginal area dryness.

Streamlined process for reporting problems is key piece of “unified Human Foods Program” which officially launched on 1 October, as Commissioner Robert Califf says, “a new model for field operations and other modernization efforts.”

Liquid herbal blends firm WishGarden Herbs expands its leadership with three hires; ChromaDex appoints Ozan Pamir CFO; Vivazen adds CMO; Post Malone promotes poppi; and marketing consultant Gould gets ‘Most Influential’ nod.

Council for Responsible Nutrition contends New Jersey bill, which Assembly Health Committee amended with substantial language to make restrictions more stringent on 23 September, is targeted as inaccurately as restrictions in New York effective in April.

Democrats Wyden and Merkley author Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act to limit sales to consumers 21 and older and authorize FDA to order recalls and impose bans on cannabis products with dangerous chemicals or additives. It also would establish regulatory structure for using cannabinoids found naturally in hemp and allowing “semi-synthetic” ingredients while prohibiting artificial or fully synthetic cannabinoids.

FDA approves Flumist consumers can use at home for prevention of flu caused by virus subtypes A and B in individuals 2 through 49 years old in a proposal submitted by AstraZeneca’s MedImmune.