Zentiva has signed its first acquisition after it was carved out from Sanofi last year to become an independent company, entering into a shared purchase agreement with Siyiara to acquire Romania-based food supplement and OTC medicines producer Solacium.

Trimb has gained the exclusive rights from Teva to market across Scandinavia a portfolio of "well-known" consumer health brands, covering skin-care, oral-care, and digestive health, as well as dietary supplements. 

German generics and OTC specialist Dermapharm has snapped up two firms that it said would enable it to boost its international presence. 

While Rx drug pricing is under attack by Congress, White House and consumer and public health advocacy groups, OTC drugs' value isn't gaining a higher profile. "Our health care system undervalues the contribution of our industry's products," says CHPA chief Scott Melville. Trade group conducts “Value of OTC Medicines" study for reasons including raising the profile of consumer health products in the US health care system.

Zur Rose adds French online retail platform Doctipharma as two board members resign over “differences of opinion” with regards to the firm's growth strategy.

Cosmetics Europe expects its in vitro method for SPF determination to be a published ISO standard within two to three years. The European Commission is behind in vitro sunscreen testing, and the method could significantly reduce costs and technical challenges while providing in vivo-equivalent results, the trade group says.

Notwithstanding a particularly difficult 2018, Bayer Consumer Health still has "one of the best brand portfolios," and can continue to compete with the market leaders, says CEO Werner Baumann. Consumer Health struggled particularly in the US and Europe in the 12 months, with the majority of its leading brands recording poor performances.

RB's Health business failed to keep pace with market growth in 2018, with the firm admitting its mindset in Europe "needs to change." The UK-based consumer-goods giant spent the 12 months working on its RB 2.0 restructuring program, which will give it the option to separate into two independent companies focusing on Health and Hygiene by 2020.

France's self-medication market had a difficult 2018, due to a weak flu season and changing dynamics in the sector, according to industry association Afipa. Despite this it was a good year for Sanofi, which overtook Boiron as the number-one OTC firm in the market, while its Doliprane analgesic became France's best-selling brand.

Former Biotene owner Laclede ordered by federal judge to stop using brand, now owned by GSK, to promote its competing line of Salivea dry mouth products. But judge rejected GSK’s request that the Salivea dry mouth product marketers are subject to a lifetime non-compete agreement.

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.