ReportersNotebook — Over the Counter, 6/25/12

SUPPLIER NEWS — Biolife in May launched WoundSeal, a hemostat product specifically targeting Americans on a regimen of blood thinners. While hemostat products have been introduced into the first aid set before, this is the first one targeting patients on a specific therapy.


According to the company, as many as 52 million Americans are taking blood thinners, and 11% stop taking those medicines because of “nuisance bleeding.”
 The company already is working on a line extension for the product — WoundSeal for Nosebleeds — that includes a specially designed applicator for nosebleeds or other hard-to-reach areas like head wounds.


MarcasUSA in May announced the U.S. debut of Conazol, a leading over-the-counter athlete’s foot treatment in Mexico. The brand is expanding its U.S. distribution and can be found at such retailers as Walmart and Target in key U.S. Hispanic markets, including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Chicago, the company stated.


That marks the second Mexican company to seek entry into the U.S. mass marketplace in the past few months. Genomma Lab Internacional recently attempted to expand its product portfolio with its proposed-and-rejected acquisition of Prestige Brands.


Genomma already is distributing product through mass retail outlets, according to the company’s website, and currently boasts more than 78 brands in its product portfolio.


Hispanics represent one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States. According to the Census Bureau, the Hispanic population grew from 35.3 million in 2000 to 50.5 million in 2010, a 43% increase. In 2010, Hispanics represented a little more than 15% of the total U.S. population. By 2050 the U.S. Census Bureau projects there will be more than 100 million Hispanic-Americans, representing almost 25% of the U.S. population. And Hispanics skew younger as compared with Americans overall — the median age among Hispanics is 28 years old versus 37 years old for the general American population, according to Nielsen research.