Futura recorded its first notable revenues last year, generated by the launch of its Eroxon erectile dysfunction gel in the UK and Europe, marking the company's transition from an R&D startup to a consumer healthcare player in its own right. To mark the occasion, CEO James Barder outlines a new strategy, with a focus on innovation in sexual wellness, further global partnerships and sustained profitability. 

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.

Sweden's Karo has struck its second deal in six months bringing in the Proctosedyl hemorrhoid brand from Bayer.

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.

A round-up of the latest European consumer health appointments: Haleon hires new CFO; Bayer Vital names new chief; Abdi Ibrahim appoints consumer health head.

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.

Blink NutriTears supplement containing lutein/zeaxanthin, curcumin and vitamin D3 coming in 2024 is example of a cross-segment sales benefit B+L sees in dry eye product category. Consumer eye care and vision health product sales are key drivers for 18% Q1 net sales growth to $1.1bn.

Benzoyl peroxide-based acne drug products and their alleged proclivity to become contaminated with carcinogenic benzene are at the center of putative class actions filing against L’Oreal in federal courts around the US.

J&J, Target and Walgreens face class action complaints in California federal courts for economic harms caused by their sale of benzoyl peroxide-containing acne treatments, following Valisure’s 5 March citizen petition to the US FDA on findings of high levels of benzene in such products.

Habitually noncompliant companies are laughing at FDA, Peter Barton Hutt says.