By teaming up with local player Dr Reddy's, Nestlé is hoping to improve the distribution and reach of dietary supplement brands like Nature's Bounty in India. The company announced its India joint venture as it reported Q1 sales down at its Health Science business.

In a deal worth around $600m, Rohto Pharmaceutical is poised to expand its dietary supplements offering in Southeast Asia through the acquisition of a controlling stake in Singapore's Eu Yan Sang.

Since closing at a 14-year low of $8.07 the day of the execs’ transactions, Herbalife shares trend steadily up from close of $8.26 on 20 February to $8.83 on 29 February. Some execs sell back some shares on 25 February at $8.67.

Prices are expected to continue rising for dietary supplements containing marine lipids due to a worldwide shortage of fish oil, according to ingredients firm DSM-Firmenich.

In this episode of the updated Over The Counter podcast, HBW Insight speaks to sustainable packaging expert Tony Perrotta about the complexities of replacing plastic pill packs in medicines packaging. Perrotta is a partner at PA Consulting, which set up the Blister Pack Collective alongside consumer health players Haleon, Bayer and Sanofi. They are working with PulPac, which has invented a dry molded fiber alternative to plastic, which the Collective hopes to commercialize within 12-24 months. We discuss whether regulators will accept such alternatives, given the safety and stability requirements for medicines, and the challenges of recycling, given the multitude of different frameworks and processes across the world. Perrotta also reveals that one of the partners in PA Consulting’s Bottle Collective, which hopes to replace plastic bottles in the food, personal care and consumer health industries, will soon launch its first market trial.

Along with latest results, Kenvue says as its “transitions services agreement” with J&J ends, its board approves reducing global workforce by around 4%. It expects around $275m in pre-tax restructuring costs in both 2024 and 2025 without changes to its capital allocation priorities.

Perrigo spares little about Opill’s launch, advertising and outlook in Q1 earnings briefing, but management also makes clear it’s a large firm and some other segments of its global consumer health products business are holding back overall results.

Along with latest results, Kenvue says as its “transitions services agreement” with J&J ends, its board approves reducing global workforce by around 4%. It expects around $275m in pre-tax restructuring costs in both 2024 and 2025 without changes to its capital allocation priorities.

Direct seller reports Q1 sales up 1% to $1.3bn but net sales off 17.1% from year-ago period to $24.3m. Its distributor ranks jumped so far in 2024, particularly in China, where changes were made in the past year including new company leadership.

Whether called “dark patterns,” “shady” online marketing practices, or simply deception on the internet, the issue has taken on high importance at the US Federal Trade Commission and is being tackled by new laws in a growing number of states. Amin Talati Wasserman partner Lauren Aronson discusses in this interview with HBW Insight.

BBB National Programs found FTC’s proposed Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials largely effective with some certainty on whether product reviews or customer testimonials are violations of its false advertising standards. But it =expects some clarifications may come in final rule.

Speakers scheduled for hearing are Fake Review Watch, which says it’s “dedicated to exposing the massive corruption of online consumer review platforms”; University of California-Davis researchers who found widespread fraud; and Interactive Advertising Bureau, which says its members account for 86% of online advertising expenditures in the US.