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Get a Detailed Picture of the Medicated Skin Care Industry in Germany With New Publication

Posted on: Friday, 29 February 2008, 06:00 CST

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84423) has announced the addition of Euromonitor International's new report: Medicated Skin Care in Germany to their offering.

Our Medicated Skin Care in Germany report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2001-2006), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2011 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: acne treatments, antipruritics, topical germicidals/antiseptics, topical allergy remedies/antihistamines, topical antifungals, vaginal antifungals, antiparasitics/lice (head and body) treatments, medicated shampoos, hair loss treatments, lip care treatments, haemorrhoid treatments, child-specific medicated skin care, nappy (diaper) rash treatments

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares and brand shares

Why buy this report?

Get a detailed picture of the medicated skin care industry

Identify factors driving change

Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands

Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop

Executive summary

Stagnating sales in 2006

Value sales of OTC healthcare products stagnated in 2006. The relatively poor growth was mainly due to a decline in sales of cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies, which account for almost one quarter of total OTC sales. The sector suffered from a mild winter and therefore a mild cold and flu season in 2006.

The main drivers of growth in 2006 once again were vitamins and dietary supplements, which constitute the largest OTC sector. However, once again, many products came under fire from the German press, which cast doubt over the efficacy of taking vitamins in tablet form. Even more damaging for the industry were claims that some products were not just ineffective, but downright dangerous. A downturn in sales of vitamins was offset by growth in sales of dietary supplements. In contrast to the furore surrounding vitamins, many of these products have enjoyed good reports, and sales have grown as a result.

Ageing population requires more medical care

Demographic issues are a key market driver for OTC healthcare. On the one hand, an ageing population will require increasing medical care. With age, the likelihood of health-related problems increases, thus demand for OTC products is expected to see continued growth in the future.

On the other hand, the declining number of children in Germany will have a negative effect on child-specific products. Although almost all parents are not willing to make any compromises and will buy whatever they think to be necessary when the health and well-being of their children is at stake, the demand for child-specific OTC products is expected to decline further, as there are fewer and fewer children in Germany.

Distribution system under fire

The German legislation regarding the distribution of medicinal products may see substantial changes in the near future, as the current regulations have come under fire from retailers and the European Commission. An important issue is the DocMorris case. The Dutch Internet pharmacy has found a loophole to get around German law and has started to implement a pharmacy franchise system. A German court has now decided to ask Europe's top court to rule on the case. A court ruling in favour of DocMorris could lead to considerably lower prices for OTC medicines in Germany. According to DocMorris, pharmacies that choose to join the franchise system would be able to offer OTC medication up to 30% cheaper than other pharmacies.

Germany has also come into conflict with the EU with respect to food supplements. A ruling of the European Court of Justice against the German classification of garlic preparations as medicines may have far-reaching consequences for herbal products in Germany. If herbal extracts in general are classified as foodstuffs in the future, market entry for foreign manufacturers would be much easier, as would be the general distribution by supermarkets.

Market concentration continues

The trend towards mergers and acquisitions in the OTC market is anticipated to continue in the short to medium term. Health and wellness products are regarded as a key future market in Germany. Pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers that have a weak position in the health market will also try to strengthen their portfolio by acquisitions of smaller manufacturers. The concentration of the OTC market is not expected to have any negative consequences for consumers, as there will in any case remain a high level of competition.

Companies Mentioned:

Stada Arzneimittel AG Ratiopharm GmbH & Co Bayer HealthCare AG Bayer AG Novartis AG MCM Klosterfrau Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH Johnson & Johnson Inc GlaxoSmithKline Plc Boehringer Sohn CH Beiersdorf AG

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84423

Source: Business Wire

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