Products for every life stage: Q&A with Mission Pharmacal's Phillip Dritsas

Drug Store News caught up with Phillip Dritsas, SVP, General Manager Consumer Division & Specialty Markets for Mission Pharmacal, to talk about its new product for fighting head lice, and what attendees should expect to see from the Dr. Smith’s brand and Mission Pharmacal at NACDS TSE.



DSN: What new consumer products are being introduced by Mission Pharmacal?



Phillip Dritsas: Lycelle Head Lice Removal Kit is now available as a nonprescription product that contains one 3.38 fl.-oz. bottle of pre-combing gel and a single fine-toothed metal comb that is used to remove lice and their eggs. Lycelle uses a non-pesticidal formulation that is safe for use with children as young as 2 years of age, and it typically eliminates both lice and their eggs with just one 10-minute use. Lycelle has a pleasant wintergreen scent and a brief application time, making treating young children a less-trying experience for both child and parent. Many other head lice treatments rely on pesticides that attack the lice’s nervous system to kill the lice and, in some cases, their eggs. Recent reports have indicated that in 25 states, many forms of lice have developed resistance to over-the-counter treatments containing pesticides. Because Lycelle is pesticide free, it is effective and safe for children.



DSN: What can retailers look forward to from the Dr. Smith’s brand?



Dritsas: The Dr. Smith’s brand is growing and now offers products for every life stage — from baby bottoms to baby boomers. This fall, the Dr. Smith’s brand evolves with the introduction of new packaging for its diaper rash products and the introduction of a new product for the incontinence aisle. Attendees to this year’s NACDS will get a sneak peek of the new packaging for Dr. Smith’s Diaper Rash Ointment and Spray. The design maintains elements that brand loyalists will recognize, while incorporating new bolder and brighter features to stand out to consumers on retail shelves. The new packaging includes an updated logo and introduces other new brand graphics and icons, and is scheduled to hit retail shelves this fall. In the adult incontinence category, Mission Pharmacal will introduce a new 3.5-oz. spray version of its Dr. Smith’s Adult Barrier Spray, which also will feature new packaging. The new retail-friendly spray complements the current 6 oz. Adult Barrier Spray that has been marketed to long-term care facilities. The Adult Barrier Spray product lines will be promoted to families/individuals who are caregivers treating incontinence. This product is a convenient and touch-free alternative to traditional creams and ointments.



DSN: How does Mission Pharmacal continue to bring innovation to the marketplace?



Dritsas: Mission Pharmacal is committed to offering environmentally-friendly products that are effortless and effective We are reinventing the way parents and caregivers treat age-old problems, such as diaper rash and adult incontinence. Our consumer zinc oxide products are designed to be convenient, gentle and safe to use. The spray products are formulated with Honeywell Solstice Propellant, one of the most environmentally-preferable aerosol technologies available. The propellant is hydro-fluorocarbon (HFC) free, and is not a volatile organic compound (VOC).



DSN: Are there any new marketing initiatives?



Dritsas: Just as the Dr. Smith’s brand continues to grow, so do its marketing efforts — in both the baby and adult incontinence categories. Mission Pharmacal is committed to marketing its consumer products. For example, Dr. Smith’s Diaper Rash Ointment and Spray is in the midst of a national marketing campaign that encourages parents to Reach for the Doctor to help treat and prevent diaper rash. The campaign includes national television spots in English and Spanish, extensive social and digital activations, grassroots efforts and in-store promotions. Dr. Smith’s Adult Barrier Spray also is in the midst of preparing to launch a marketing campaign to inform consumers about this innovative touch-free application that soon will be seen on retail shelves in the incontinence aisle.