Perrigo launches own brand-exclusive innovation in new PPI

4/6/2018
Perrigo and its partner Dexcel Pharma Technologies on Thursday launched a store brand Omeprazole Delayed Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets 20mg (Omeprazole ODT) that features MelTech melt-in-your-mouth technology, which dissolves in the mouth without water.

“Consumers want a heartburn medication that provides effective, long-term relief, but they also want a product that is easy and convenient to take,” Jeff Needham, executive vice president and president, Consumer Healthcare Americas, Perrigo, said. “Our novel Omeprazole ODT product combines the effective heartburn relief of omeprazole with innovative MelTech melt-in-your-mouth technology that heartburn sufferers desire. Perrigo is excited to be the first to bring this innovation to the heartburn OTC category while still delivering quality, affordable store-brand products to consumers.”

According to IRI, retail sales of omeprazole (as an active ingredient) totaled more than $600 million for the last 12 months, when combining store brand and the nationally advertised brand, Prilosec OTC.

Store brand omeprazole is more cost-effective than national heartburn brand solutions, with customers saving an average of 20% to 30% when purchasing store brand. Omeprazole ODT treats the same frequent heartburn symptoms as name brand products that use omeprazole as the active ingredient.

Omeprazole ODT is a proton pump inhibitor that works by blocking the production of acid in the stomach, which often leads to heartburn. PPIs are FDA-approved for patients 18 years of age and older. Omeprazole is the number one selling active ingredient in PPIs. One 20mg tablet should be taken daily for 14 days to relieve frequent heartburn symptoms. Unless instructed by your doctor, Omeprazole ODT should not be taken for more than 14 days, and at least four months should pass before beginning another treatment regimen.

Heartburn is considered frequent when symptoms are experienced at least two times per week. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 15 million Americans experience heartburn symptoms each day. More than eight in 10 adults face some type of gastrointestinal problem, and more than half (57 percent) seek out treatments with an over-the-counter medication. Additionally, 52 percent turn to medical professionals, friends or family members for help in deciding how to treat digestive health issues.
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