Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies in France

PROSPECTS

New studies and new regulations

In 2017 and 2018, various scientific organisations stated that many products claiming to combat colds and flu are inefficient and sometimes even risky, leading for instance to heart problems. This drove the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety to prohibit manufacturers from conducting advertising campaigns aimed at the general public in December 2017.

Brands must create new strategies to make their products relevant all year round

The winter of 2017 was especially mild, resulting in fewer severe winter ailments and viral epidemics. Consequently, a decline in sales of painkillers and respiratory treatments was evident, although a return to more standard winter weather is predicted for 2018/2019.

Distribution shifts are expected

Chemists/pharmacies remained the dominant distribution channel for cough/cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies in 2018. Hypermarkets and supermarkets were the next largest channels.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Sanofi gains ground

Although Solinest SA took over leadership of the category from Laboratoires URGO in 2018, Sanofi also recorded a strong value share gain, ranking third. It can count on several key products such as Toplexil for cough remedies and Maxilase 3000 and Lysopaïne (the latter as a GBO) for pharyngeal preparations.

Antihistamines and pharyngeal preparations: two very different categories

Within OTC antihistamines/allergy remedies (systemic), some brands and players (Urgo, UCB Healthcare, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre and Cooper) are now subject to the strong push of generics, with a downward impact on prices. Within this category, competition is fierce.

Files are delivered directly into your account within a few minutes of purchase.