Digestive Remedies in Venezuela

PROSPECTS

A structural change in antacids opens up business opportunities

A ban on aluminium hydroxide caused the production of antacids to stop altogether in 2014. The government’s ban on this active ingredient can be tied directly to the use of antacids as pepper spray and lachrymator agent (tear gas) blockers during the protests that have taken place in 2014 and 2017.

Alternative products increasingly used due to limited availability

Whereas the presence of probiotics is not as prevalent so as to cause concern to companies in this category, consumers are now more inclined to purchase remedies that might not suit their needs only because they cannot find the precise item. According to industry sources, there might be some misuse of digestive enzymes and antiflatulents as both influence the digestive process and tend to produce similar results.

Proton pump inhibitors substitute H2 blockers altogether in 2018

Brand owners compete for sales against generics through advertising and solid brand positioning. Generics used to be present only in H2 blockers, with ranitidine, famotidine and cimetidine.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Two large players dominate digestive remedies in 2018

Zuoz Pharma SA as part of Grupo Vargas and Laboratorios Roemmers-Klinos CA are leaders in digestive remedies thanks to increased production of antacids, which had been largely absent from the category since 2014. Zuoz Pharma manufactures Refluxyl – the top brand of digestive remedies – and Titralac, which are some of the limited offerings within antacids that can get around the government’s ban on aluminium hydroxide.

Domestic companies are followers in a concentrated category

Domestic companies hold modest shares in this concentrated category. Konsuma de Venezuela – as part of Grupo Farma – leads in IBS treatments with its brand Colypan, by filling the void left by the exit of Buscapina (Boehringer Ingelheim CA) and also holds first position in laxatives with Senokot, which has a stronger presence than rival Milax, by CA Productos Ronava.

One key brand dominates paediatric diarrhoeal remedies in 2018

Laboratorios Behrens CA launched Rehidrosol in November 2017 to become the only oral rehydration electrolyte solution produced entirely in Venezuela. Products in paediatric diarrhoeal remedies vanished after the exit of Abbott Laboratories (Pedialyte) and Merck SA (Florestor) in 2016.

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