Stada Arzneimittel’s UK dietary supplement subsidiary Natures Aid is expanding its Mini Drops and Super Stars children’s wellness brands with new products.

One way to revitalize interest in the EU's centralized switch procedure would be to introduce longer data exclusivity periods or market exclusivity for successful applicants, concluded an AESGP expert switch panel presenting at the association's 59th Annual Meeting in Paris, France. However, a European Commission representative told another panel that this was not under consideration as part of the EU pharmaceutical legislation revision.

The European Commission shocked participants at this year's AESGP Annual Meeting by warning that OTC antifungals, like treatments for athlete’s foot, and OTC antivirals, like cold sore creams, could soon become prescription-only within the region, under proposed revisions to the EU pharma legislation. There is hope, however. The proposals are still open to feedback from industry, the AESGP points out, and even if this proposal becomes law, member states can waive this prescription requirement under certain conditions.

HBW Insight catches up with US executive editor, Malcolm Spicer, to discuss Perrigo subsidiary HRA Pharma’s Rx-to-OTC switch application for its daily contraceptive, Opill. With the switch currently under consideration by the US Food and Drug Administration after a positive recommendation from its advisory committees, Spicer draws on his in depth coverage of the subject, as well as his extensive experience writing about the US consumer health market, to tell listeners what they need to know about this historic switch.

Europe's OTC companies should think carefully about their pricing strategies, given the complexity of the inflationary picture across the region. Examining case studies from Spain and Poland, IQVIA Consumer Health experts recommend looking at price elasticity for particular categories and brands, as well as acting quickly in case the window of opportunity for price rises disappears as inflation calms down.

A recent decision by the European Commission provides UK microbiome specialist ProBiotix Health with an opportunity to present its CholBiome extension as an alternative to red yeast rice as a way to “maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.”