Nonprofit HRT reached a commercial supply agreement for a firm to produce its RiVive naloxone nasal spray still in development after FDA granted fast frack designation for its OTC switch NDA.

Germany's Dermapharm will pay €450m to acquire herbal specialist Arkopharma to expand its footprint in Europe's consumer health market in countries such as France, Spain and Italy.

The global market leader in consumer health is now Haleon following its separation from GSK after more than two years of planning.

Amsterdam-based TheOTCLab has received an EU CE mark for its new wart and verruca OTC freezing device Dr. Yglo. The firm plans to launch the product in Europe in Italy, Portugal, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and will separately look to take it further afield to the US and South Africa.

The UK's MHRA has approved the Rx-to-OTC switch of J&J's Sudafed Plus nasal spray (xylometazoline hydrochloride/dexpanthenol) and given the green light for the company to add new pack sizes to its Nicorette QuickMist and QuickMist Smart Track products.

Establishing VMS products MPL as stated within legislation to re-authorize FDA user fee programs for drugs, biologics and medical device applications isn’t urgent enough to prevent passing user fee bill, says CRN chief Steve Mister.

OTC drug and dietary supplement companies continue to face significant economic and competitive issues in what continues to be a highly volatile operating environment. Here we’ve culled takes from top execs at Sanofi, Bayer, J&J, P&G and other leading players, provided during recent sales and earnings presentations.

The Hamburg, Germany-based firm defied economic and political headwinds and China troubles in the fiscal 2022 first half to book organic net sales growth of 10.5% to €4.5bn worldwide. Despite optimism about China recovery, sun care, and its recent Chantecaille acquisition, Beiersdorf is projecting a slowdown in the second half in what remains a volatile operating environment.

Along with Q2 results including reported net sales up 14.3% to $1.12bn, Perrigo announces overhaul of its supply chain expected to generate $100m to $300m in net cost savings and creation of women's health, skin care business units.

Host of complaints in US courts, seeking damages or alleging ranitidine caused various cancers, followed FDA’s 2020 findings of NDMA levels exceeding allowable limits in some samples provoked  Litigation is starting to come to trial, the first set for 22 August in Illinois and a bellwether case due to begin in California in February 2023.

As it did when it halted sales in US and Canada in 2020, J&J’s latest announcement attributes its decision as coming from a “portfolio assessment” and stated it remains confident in using talc in baby powder and cosmetics.

The latest in litigation against Unilever, P&G, Beiersdorf and J&J alleging violations for selling personal-care products contaminated with benzene.