Chain Drug Review, July 9, 2018

Chain Drug Review July 9 2018 49 HEALTH CARE REPORT EYE EAR Suppliers focus on new offerings to combat dry eyes NEW YORK The prevalence of dry eyes has been estimated at 5 to 30 in people older than 50 and it is expected to increase as the population ages Based on data from the National Health and Wellness Survey 68 of the U S adult population approximately 164 million people have been diagnosed with dry eye The prevalence increases with age 27 in those 18 to 34 years old versus 186 in those over 75 years old and is higher in women than men 88 versus 45 It is not affected by race education or location of residence Cynthia Barratt president and chief executive officer of OCuSOFT noted that more and more products are coming to the market to treat dry eye This is not only on the overthe counter front but behind the counter in the pharmacy as well There is a range of products to fit the patients needs and financial means Barratt said that consumers are looking for a quick fix an economical solution to their problems Ocular discomfort is distracting and disconcerting Consumers are looking for quality innovative products at affordable prices Fortunately OCuSOFT is known as the leader in eyelid hygiene which plays a major role in dry eye conditions They want results and we are a results driven company with products that produce positive results Fortunately we have the latest technology in over the counter products to address dry eyes blepharitis ocular rosacea etc Our products improve patient compliance and therefore yield better outcomes Our OCuSOFT Original and Plus formulations make up 75 of the retail sales in the eyelid hygiene category As the market leader we continue to have line extensions We now have a product to address eyelid inflammation OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Platinum Recently receiving a lot of attention from the podium are our OUST Demodex and HypoChlor solution as well as the aforementioned OCuSOFT Lid Scrub Family of products Were seeing an upward trend in the purchase of redness relieving drops with more than 14 million households using over the counter eye drops to treat eye redness a common condition that can be caused by inflammation of almost any part of the eye said Joseph Gordon president of Consumer Healthcare and Vision Care at Bausch Lomb The preservative free eye drop category is also experiencing growth as dry eye impacts more than 140 million Americans and research has shown that 61 of consumers are using lubricant eye drops to help with symptom relief Finally were seeing increased traction in eye vitamins particularly due to a heightened concern around the impact of blue light emitted from the digital devices we rely on daily In addition as Age Related Macular Degeneration AMD continues to be the leading cause of vision loss of Americans over age 50 consumers continue to look for options to help reduce their risk of disease progression particularly those that offer more convenience Gordon said consumers are looking for products that not only help care for their eyes in todays digital age but also can support their evolving needs as they age Important factors driving purchasing decisions include preservative free options lower risk of side effects and the convenience of chewable pills especially for older consumers who may experience difficulty swallowing as they age Gordon pointed out that the last few months have been one of Bausch Lombs busiest periods for innovation The significant research and development investments weve made have resulted in several new products that help address some of todays most pervasive eye health concerns He said that Bausch Lomb has launched a number of new products in the eye care market in 2018 including LUMIFY brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0025 redness reliever eye drops These are the first and only O T C eye drops containing low dose brimonidine tartrate developed for the reduction of eye redness due to minor irritation In clinical studies LUMIFY was shown to be safe and effective with low risk for rebound redness LUMIFY has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration starts working to reduce redness in one minute and lasts up to eight hours Gordon noted that new Soothe Xtra Protection XP Preservative Free lubricant eye drops were introduced to help the increasing number of people suffering from dry eye symptoms who are looking for a preservative free solution Gordon said the new Ocuvite Blue Light eye vitamins are a nutritional supplement formulated with lutein and zeaxanthin which are naturally found in the eye This formulation of eye nutrients includes high levels of lutein and helps protect eyes from the blue light that reaches the macula which is responsible for our central vision He added that PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula Chewable vitamins are an alternative for those with AMD who have trouble swallowing pills PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula vitamins are the only vitamins that contain the exact levels of six key nutrients recommended by the National Eye Institute and now with the availability of a chewable version we are able to help more people with moderate to advanced AMD reduce their risk of progression by offering a convenient new way to make PreserVision part of their eye care routine he concluded Elsewhere Quest Products recently launched Blue Guard Blue Light Defense Formula a daily supplement that is said to help protect and improve vision The product is formulated with Lutemax 2020 a clinically proven and environmentally friendly active ingredient that combats the harmful effects of exposure to blue light Were all being exposed to more blue light than ever before but the problem is especially concerning for Millennials who are at risk by constantly interacting with screens that can harm their vision said Mark McGreevy vice president of business development for Quest Products With Blue Guard anyone can reduce eye strain increase eye speed and improve overall eye health He explained that blue light is the type of illumination given off by electronic screens which through high exposure is the most damaging light to the eyes Alcon and Venus play doubles FORT WORTH Alcon recently launched its newest lubricant eye drop Systane Complete with the help of professional tennis superstar Venus Williams She is partnering with the company to speak about her experience with dry eye and how the new Alcon eye drop helps her find real relief allowing her to perform at her best on and off the court These efforts are part of an educational campaign Alcon is launching to reach those who suffer from dry eye I spent years not understanding my dry eye symptoms and going through several different eye drops to find a solution said Williams Systane Complete is a total game changer for me and thats why Im so passionate about working with Alcon to help others understand their symptoms and find real relief Systane Complete a new formula designed to provide relief for every major type of dry eye is an ideal first line treatment option for people who suffer from evaporative dry eye aqueous tear deficient dry eye or mixed dry eye It uses intelligent moisture and lipid delivery to enhance delivery of the active ingredient across the surface of the eye and stabilize the tear film Its advanced nano droplet technology allows for fast acting hydration tear evaporation protection and long lasting relief In addition to welcoming Williams to the Systane family Alcon will continue its collaboration with mountain climber Lisa Thompson as she moves from her existing dry eye treatment Systane Ultra to the new Systane Complete As part of the campaign these athletes will share their experiences through multimedia assets a website and a TV commercial to help dry eye sufferers We are thrilled to have a powerful and authentic voice like Venus Williams to help drive awareness around an issue that can be debilitating and an inconvenience for millions around the country said Sergio Duplan Alcons North America region president Systane Complete is another revolutionary advancement from Alcon helping support our mission to improve lives through eye care Venus Williams Eye Lens Care Solutions TOTAL DOLLAR SALES 1612 bil 01 DRUG STORES 161 mil 09 LEADING BRANDS Market share Dollar sales 000 Dollar sales change Private Label 179 29000 30 Alcon Systane Ultra 56 9099 47 Alcon Systane 48 7769 27 Alcon Zaditor 40 6489 115 Bausch Lomb Biotrue 36 5769 43 Alcon Opti Free Pure Moist 35 5710 72 Allergan Refresh Optive 34 5431 253 Alcon Opti Free Replenish 30 4788 152 Similasan 26 4149 42 Thera Tears 256 4070 454 TOTAL UNIT SALES 530 mil 1 DRUG STORES 156 mil 28 LEADING BRANDS Avg price per unit Unit sales 000 Unit sales change Private Label 823 3497 14 Alcon Systane Ultra 1430 636 54 Alcon Systane 1513 514 00 Alcon Zaditor 1767 367 139 Bausch Lomb Biotrue 898 642 64 Alcon Opti Free Pure Moist 1002 570 31 Allergan Refresh Optive 1858 292 212 Alcon Opti Free Replenish 968 494 146 Similasan 1076 386 57 Thera Tears 1328 306 466 Total of drug stores supermarkets discount stores military commissaries and selected club and dollar stores In drug stores only Source IRI For the 12 weeks ended May 20 2018