In this Issue

PricewaterhouseCooper’s Health Research institute, in its look at the biggest industry issues of 2016, found that 60% of patients would be willing to use their mobile device for a physician visit. The increased interest in telehealth comes as Mordor Intelligence projects the industry will be worth more than $34 billion by 2020, and as chains and independents look to telehealth solutions to connect patients to providers and pharmacy services in rural or underserved areas.

One solution for stalled mass market skin care sales has been enlarging natural product choices. Although “natural” is hard to define without true regulation, consumers are at least looking for products with the fewest harmful ingredients.

DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark in April introduced the improved Depend Fit-Flex Underwear, which is now more flexible to move with one’s body, the company stated. And the Depend brand also introduced new Depend Night Defense Underwear for Women — an overnight absorbency brief specifically designed for nighttime use that features more absorbent material and more coverage for lightweight, heavy protection.

(To view the full Category Reviews, click here.)

In April, the Food and Drug Administration granted approval to Pfizer’s Inflectra (infliximab) — a biosimilar of Janssen’s Remicade and possibly the second biosimilar to be launched in the United States. But like the first biosimilar, Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), Inflectra is subject to a 180-day waiting period before launch, and is currently facing opposition from Janssen, which claims Remicade’s patent doesn’t expire until 2018.

GSK Consumer Healthcare is challenging the common misconception that migraines are just a “bad headache” by creating the world’s first augmented reality migraine simulator.

Each year, as many as 12 million sets of parents come home to find their children frantically scratching their heads due to a head lice infestation. And that incidence appears to be on the rise, as sales of parasite treatments were up 7.3% to $163.7 million for the 52 weeks ended May 15 across total U.S. multi-outlets, according to IRI data.

GSK Consumer Healthcare’s Flonase allergy remedy was the single greatest generator of incremental dollars for the 52 weeks ended May 15 across total U.S. multi-outlets, according to IRI data, with $345.2 million in sales on 209.9% growth. The question headed into its second year on OTC shelves is can it maintain its momentum now that private-label competition for Flonase has reached store shelves.

In the next 10 years, the retail landscape will look and feel much different than it does today. “You’re going to be looking at a world that, instead of [retail] channels, there will be points of influence and methods of fulfillment,” Bryan Gildenberg, chief knowledge officer at Kantar Retail, said during a two-day drug channel workshop Kantar hosted in May. “Where can I influence shoppers irrespective of where the buying takes place, and how do I fulfill that in a way where I can still keep my operations efficient and make money?”