87 of the top 100 German OTC manufacturers are now reporting inflation-driven price increases, up from 72 at the same point last year. Sempora Consulting suggests a number of strategies to address the current economic challenges companies face. 

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) says the EU herbal monograph for bitter fennel oil “cannot be supported anymore” because of new data on the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of estragole.

Essity has launched in the UK an Issviva branded e-commerce platform and dietary supplements range and two sustainable plaster additions to the Leukoplast wound-care line.

Scientists at Nestlé’s research division think that they have found new bifidobacterium longum strains that have unique ability to utilize both key components of human milk and fibers from solid food, opening up new opportunities for “next generation nutritional solutions” like probiotics targeting the crucial weaning period of child development.

Haleon data shows a notable increase in UK pharmacy teams recommending PPIs for frequent heartburn in the year ended September 2022. However, pharmacies are still recommending alginate-based OTCs and antacids over PPIs for frequent heartburn in the majority of occasions, which Haleon says points to a need for more pharmacy education.

The European Commission’s “obvious passivity” with regards to the long-standing botanical health claims deadlock is “illegal and violates the provisions of the EU Health Claims Regulation,” argues the German Pharmaceutical Industry Association, on the basis of a legal opinion provided by former constitutional judge Udo Di Fabio.