German OTC Market News: Allergy, Pain And Sleep Launches From Sanofi, Teva And P&G
Executive Summary
The latest German consumer healthcare launches: Sanofi adds bilastine antihistamine to Allegra range; Teva's Ratiopharm delivers paracetamol and ibuprofen combo thanks to Rx-to-OTC switch; and P&G livens up WICK ZzzQuil sleep aid gummies with tropical fruit flavour.
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Blame The ‘Hamsters’: Germany’s Paediatric Fever Medicine Shortage Worsens
An ongoing crisis in the availability of children's fever medicines in Germany is due to stockpiling – or “hamstering” – by pharmacists and wholesalers, says the country's medicines regulator. This is disputed by not just pharmacists and wholesalers, but also manufacturers, which blame Germany's fixed price system for reimbursable medicines, which includes OTC children's fever medicines. Nevertheless, the German government is seeking to address the real causes of the crisis with a new draft generics law, which is being welcomed by industry.
Alternative Smoking Cessation Drug Cytisine On 2023 German Switch Committee Agenda
Low-cost alternative smoking cessation drug cytisine is under consideration by Germany's independent switch committee in January, alongside azelastine and fluticasone propionate in combination for intranasal use, olopatadine for ophthalmic use and bilastine (10mg) for oral use.
Why Did Novartis/1A Pharma Withdraw Its Paracetamol Liquid From The German Market?
HBW Insight chats with general manager of Novartis' German subsidiary 1A Pharma about the firm's exit from the country's children's fever category. An inflexible price system for reimbursable medicines and inflationary pressures all contributed to the decision, Michael Klein explains, which has left only two manufacturers supplying the OTC liquid paracetamol market.