Perrigo appeals tax assessment Ireland levied in late December on Rx ingredient royalty rights firm gained when it became incorporated in Dublin but no longer owns, Analysts allowed President and CEO Murray Kessler. benefit of doubt he'll lead Perrigo out of prolonged slump when he joined firm in November after extensive executive experience with tobacco firms and in other consumer goods markets, but they're more circumspect about its chances of prevailing in Irish tax disagreement.

Clorox and Procter & Gamble embarked on a strategic licensing partnership to market Burt’s Bees toothpastes, available now in mass retail doors. Billed as simple formulas for adults and kids, with or without fluoride, the line marks the third swing at toothpaste for the iconic natural brand.

Mylan has bolstered its presence in key Australasian markets through a portfolio distribution arrangement with Aspen Pharma, which includes an option to buy in March 2019; the South African firm, on the other hand, is continuing to manage its portfolio in the markets, “allowing enhanced operational focus and removing complexity.”

Participants in FDA-commissioned CONFER study were scored on following label instructions for checking whether a potential patient has overdosed and administering a naloxone dose before calling for emergency help as well as on a "composite of cognitive walkthrough" of all those steps. Participants were in four groups: adult users of heroin and prescription opioids; those persons' friends and family members 18 years old and up; and separate groups of volunteers, 15- to 17-year-olds and adults.

Development of the model DFLs was a first for agency, reflecting alarm over public health crisis of overdoses from opioid abuse, which reached nearly 48,000 in 2017. The project was "part of our broader commitment to addressing the opioid crisis" and should help sponsors with potential naloxone OTC switch NDAs, says Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.

Reckitt Benckiser's long-serving CEO, Rakesh Kapoor, has unexpectedly announced his intention to retire by the end of the year, with the company immediately kicking off the search for his replacement. Kapoor will be remembered for transforming RB's consumer health business, but also for a number of setbacks under his watch which have impacted results.

Bayer reported some encouraging third-quarter developments at its Consumer Health business, including the return to shelves of a key OTC brand in China. But there is still more to be done to complete the unit’s turnaround, says global Consumer Health head Heiko Schipper.

Sanofi enjoyed “balanced growth across all geographies and key categories” at its Consumer Healthcare business in the third quarter, noted group chief executive officer Olivier Brandicourt.

Reckitt Benckiser’s (RB’s) OTC business performed “materially ahead of the market” in the third-quarter of 2018, chief executive Rakesh Kapoor informed analysts on the firm’s earnings call.

JP Morgan analysts had questions and J&J CEO Alex Gorsky and CFO Joseph Wolk had answers about liability suits alleging that use of the Johnson's brand talcum powder has caused mesothelioma or ovarian cancer. On the Johnson's brand outlook following its relaunch as a natural product line, Gorsky says sales were a key driver in the firm's consumer health sales in the 2018 third quarter. China, meanwhile, is a model for growing sales online, he says.

Keystone Labs agrees to cease manufacturing OTC drugs following a 2013 FDA warning letter and repeated GMP violations noted during inspections, including failure to investigate sources of contamination. Firm suggests it will continue making cosmetic hair- and skin-care formulas while outsourcing OTC product manufacturing.

US circuit court rejects petitions from Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Lannett Co., Nexgen Pharma and Paddock Labs to order FDA to conduct a hearing on their requests to sustain approvals for Rx PEG 3350 generics. FDA's approvals of the Rx ANDAs are set to expire Nov. 2; the agency said the Rx products were rendered unapproved in 2006 when the same formulation became available OTC.