You can't help but notice the Help Remedies line of over-the-counter medicines for its distinctive packaging. The New York-based brand's minimal, clean design hints at what's inside with an impression of the blister-pack, for instance, but it's the text that really sells what's inside. 

Offering simple medicine for simple health issues, it strips away the complexities that typical medicinal packaging bombards patients with. Instead, each package bears a "Help, I..." line of text, such as "Help, I can't sleep" for a sleep aid, or "Help, I have a headache" for a package of acetaminophen.

The simplicity of the packaging matches the promise of the products, which feature no dyes, coatings, and aim to use only the main chemical needed to treat what the patient needs.Continue reading...

We may be witnessing a slowly developing economic recovery, but that's little consolation to the pharmaceutical industry. This year, according to the New York Times, drug companies will see annual sales of almost $50 billion evaporate. Why? Because the patents for more than 10 major drug brands will expire.

It's a reality that has lingered for years. A drug company invests huge amounts of money in R&D and finally wins approval to bring a drug to market under a brand name.

But that drug can only be protected by a patent for a certain number of years; when the patent expires, generic versions of the drug can be sold, almost always at a cheaper price. Take Tylenol, for example, one of the brand names for acetaminophen. Continue reading...

Dozens of antacid brands, including Johnson & Johnson's trio of Rolaids, Pepcid and Mylanta, aren't available in the US due to recalls. As J&J works to get its products up to FDA muster and back on shelves, the pressure's on generic store brands such as Kroger’s and CVS private-label products to meet demand.

At a CVS store in Fortville, Ind., USA Today spotted a sign on a shelf where Pepcid AC should have been: "Looking for Pepcid AC products? Try CVS/pharmacy Brand for the same great results."

Less reputable outlets are looking to meet demand — witness the recent theft of $500 of heartburn products (either for personal or black market use) from Target.Continue reading...

Subway passes McDonald's as the world's largest restaurant chain.

Morgan Stanley may drop "Smith Barney" name.

YouTube acquires web video creators NextNewNetworks, making Google "officially" a media company.

AOL shares sink as Huffington Post deal closes.

Ben Affleck teams with Cindy McCain to raise awareness about the Congo.

Bing speeds up search results to keep pace with Google.Continue reading...

Touting the nutritional and health benefits of foods and beverages has fallen into a bit of disfavor recently in the western world, with both U.S. and European health-claims regulators getting tougher about what CPG manufacturers can say.

But with a nod to Jamie Lee Curtis, we are what we eat. And there’s no doubt that consumers around the world are looking more and more for “better-for-you” foods. So Nestle figures it’s time to place a bigger bet on the ultimate goal: development of truly “medical foods” that could be counted on to address human ills in a proactive and effective way, much as drugs do.

The Swiss dairy and confection giant, long considered one of the best-managed global food companies, is acquiring CM&D Pharma, a U.K.-based pharmaceutical startup that has developed a chewing gum (sold under the brand name of Fostrap) for kidney-disease sufferers.Continue reading...

Abbott recalls millions of diabetes testing strips.

Allied Irish Banks is recapitalized by Irish government.

Apple sees acceleration in sales of its set-top TV boxes.

Beiersdorf rationalizes brand and product portfolio.

Chrysler Financial sale may stoke U.S. auto-industry recovery.

Democrats (via Nancy Pelosi) tap director Steven Spielberg to rebrand party.Continue reading...

InterbrandHealth, a division of brandchannel parent Interbrand, believes that brand is the single most underutilized asset within the health & life sciences industry. Why?

The health and life sciences industry is an IP-driven space — one that is based on significant innovation. As new categories and innovation have slowed drastically over the past 10 years, there has been a proliferation of similar products where brand now has to play a key role.

“Brands have to work harder than ever to gain that trust and engage consumers in a more meaningful way,” notes Wes Wilkes, InterbrandHealth’s Executive Director of Global Strategy.Continue reading...

Elmo isn't the only urging Americans to stay healthy this flu season. 

One year after the H1N1 flu epidemic (and panic) turned out to be a relative global yawn, U.S. retailers nevertheless believe they can leverage echoes of influenza anxiety into winning promotions this fall.

Target, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and regional retailers including Jewel-Osco and Duane Reade are promoting themselves as convenient destinations for flu shots and for associated savings on seasonal-fortification products. They're already busy training more personnel in administering vaccinations, holding influenza-prevention clinics, and flocking to the flu-shot marketing theme.Continue reading...