GSK further narrows consumer health focus with sale to Crown Labs of North American distribution rights for PanOxyl acne wash, Sarna anti-itch lotion, Zeasorb anti-fungal product, Desenex athlete’s foot treatment and Mineral Ice pain-relieving gel. Deals also helps UK pharma pay for its $5.1bn acquisition of oncology drug firm Tesaro.

Bayer will sell Coppertone sunscreen and Dr. Scholl’s foot care brands to focus on growing its core consumer health brands. Although the plan represents ‘failure” in turning around sales for both brands, it is a ‘sensible’ move, say analysts.

Bayer will sell Coppertone sunscreen and Dr. Scholl’s foot care brands to focus on growing its core consumer health brands. Although the plan represents ‘failure” in turning around sales for both brands, it is a ‘sensible’ move, say analysts.

Eli Consumer Healthcare is latest supplement marketer National Advertising Division has advised that tests of separate ingredients do not support claims for a whole product. Following NADs review of TummyZen claims on challenge by Tums firm GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Consumer appeals NAD's recommendations to discontinue claims that its supplement “stops acid production,” is “acid inhibiting,” “halts the secretion of chloride ions in your parietal cells to regulate the release of acid into your stomach,” “supports stomach lining” and is “long lasting."

Swiss supply chain disruptor Zur Rose wants to break up the ancient monopoly of European bricks-and-mortar pharmacy and replace it with a tech-driven healthcare offering to rival that of retail giant Amazon, according to a member of the firm’s board, Olaf Heinrich.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is making “very good progress” on improving margins at its Consumer Healthcare business, according to chief executive officer Emma Walmsley.

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.

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.

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.

Securities fraud complaint filed by Nationwide Mutual Funds alleges firm misled investors to fend off Mylan hostile takeover in 2015 before its share price began plummeting. It is latest of similar complaints filed against Perrigo in New Jersey federal court.