Cough-Cold and Flu

Sales of OTC medicines continue on a steady pace with dollar volumes up half a billion dollars over the first half of 2016, according to data culled from IRI. Drug Store News earlier this year reported $44 billion in OTC sales for calendar 2015, citing IRI figures.

The nasal spray segment is up 2% from the previous year in the drug channel. Nasal spray segment leaders Afrin (Bayer), NeilMed and private label have all increased sales in the last year. Private label nasal sprays and Afrin both rose 6%, while NeilMed sinus rinse brand saw the largest increase in the segment at 14.3% — all NeilMed products rose 7%.

WASHINGTON – With increases in consumer spending expected to remain solid during the remainder of the year, the National Retail Federation on Tuesday increased 2016 retail sales projections by 30 basis points to 3.4% over last year.

Online and other non-store sales, which are included in the overall figure, are expected to increase 7% to 10% year-over-year rather than the 6% to 9% percent forecast earlier.

SWIFTWATER, Pa. – Sanofi Pasteur on Tuesday announced today that its first doses of Fluzone  for the 2016-2017 influenza season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for shipment.
In the 2015-2016 influenza season, 50% of seniors who were vaccinated received Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, and this number is expected to rise to 60% in the coming season.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – While the U.S. OTC market is not highly dynamic in terms of growth, its competitive landscape has changed significantly over the past five years, with the top 10 rankings shifting in 2015, the Kline Group noted on Monday from its recently published Nonprescription Drugs USA.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The National Community Pharmacists Association on Tuesday announced its 2016 lineup of one-day seminars to help community pharmacy owners and front-end staff hone their merchandising and marketing skills, as well as a new sponsorship by Good Neighbor Pharmacy and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation to continue the Front-End Profit Building Seminars program.

WASHINGTON —  Since the Food and Drug Administration’s March 25, 2014 Part 15 public hearing on the OTC Drug Monograph, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association has been in discussions with FDA and relevant committees in Congress to identify potential enhancements that would update and modernize this regulatory framework for most nonprescription medicines.

MERIDEN, Conn. - Protein Sciences Corporation on Tuesday announced that FDA has approved the 2016/17 formulation of Flublok influenza vaccine.   

FDA approval of the 2016/17 formulation of Flublok means that Flublok is on track to ship to healthcare providers in early August.