2006 Skincare in OTC Self-Medication in Europe is an in-Depth Market Report That Explores the Issues and Attractiveness of Opportunities in This Dynamic Market Sector.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35721) has announced the addition of The Future for Skincare in OTC Self-medication in Europe - The 2006 Edition to their offering.

This is the third edition of this important and extensive market report covering 10 dermatological categories in Europe's six largest markets for non-prescription and OTC self-medication skincare. Markets covered are - France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK.

Most current data is to 2004/5.

The European market for non-prescription skincare is entering a period of considerable change particularly in areas of regulation, reimbursement, innovation and competition. In an increasingly competitive and maturing market. Successful companies are adapting their brand marketing strategies to meet new challenges and seize new opportunities.

Skincare in OTC Self-medication in Europe is an in-depth market report that explores the issues and attractiveness of opportunities in this dynamic market sector.

This report contains:

--6 country profiles - European non-prescription and OTC medicines market includes: regulatory issues, distribution channels, innovation, companies and market data and trends from 1999 to 2010

--Analysis of the European market for non-prescription and OTC self-medication skincare, consumption trends, innovation and evolving brand marketing models

--European sales data by country for non-prescription and OTC Self-medication skincare including: Acne treatments, Antiseptics and Skin disinfectants, Topical antihistamines and Topical relief for Bites and Stings, Anti-fungal treatments, Anti-pruritics and Counter Irritation Skincare medication, Emollients and Skin protection and treatments for Itchy Dry Skin, Cold Sores, Topical Steroids, Wound Healing Products, and Corn, Wart and Verucca Removers

--Descriptions of leading brands and companies in each category and country in Europe's non-prescription skincare market

Overall, the European pain relief market as measured in the six major markets France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK, is entering a period of maturity. This is presenting a challenge to manufacturers. Yet, though there are clear threats emerging, there remains considerable scope for companies to seek out growth strategies for individual brands.

While the market (as defined in the study) is made up medicinal products not requiring a doctor's prescription, a significant proportion of European sales are generated through prescription business. Yet, this hitherto lucrative sector of the market is under threat. Much of Europe no longer reimburses prescriptions for pain relievers and those countries that do are both encouraging generic substitution and forcing prices down. Hence the prescription sector for pain relievers is declining in most European markets.

Conversely, OTC self-medication of pain relief products in Europe provides a growth opportunity.

While Poland and Italy are expected to show the strongest growth for pain relief products overall, Germany and France offer very weak growth prospects. The UK and Spain are both expected to show fairly modest growth to 2010.

Market growth for all sub-categories is expected to be lower in the 2005 to 2010 period than for the 1999 to 2004.

The most attractive growth sub-categories are migraine, period pain and mouth pain. Even so, these are the smallest categories. Systemic muscle and joint pain relief is expected to show the least attractiveness with very low growth expectations. This sub-category is coming under increasing competition from nutritional products from health food stores and drugstores. Topical pain relief is also likely to show relatively flat growth.

The largest category, general pain analgesics, will grow by less than 2% a year based on current trends.

Around 2% of the European market for non-prescription pain relief products is made up by brands launched since 1999. This said, Novartis' topical diclofenac brand Voltaren was switched from prescription only between 1996 and 1999. Also, Aleve, originally launched by Roche, was the first naproxen based systemic switch in Europe. First launched in the Netherlands in 1997 and then gradually rolled out across Europe - Italy in1998, Belgium and Poland in 2000 and Austria and Germany in 2002.

Pain relief offers considerable scope for brands to grow through strategic line extensions, especially general pain relief analgesics.

Three basic approaches can be observed in the European, pain relief market i.e.:

--Indication segment (pain relief) stretching e.g. period pain relief and migraine

--Channel stretching

--Category stretching e.g. cold and flu remedies

Consolidation of wholesalers at both national and regional levels, together with the growth of virtual chains (owned by the major wholesaling groups) is leading to a concentration of buying power that will lead to a reduction in the number of brands listed.

Concentration of buying power could adversely impact on smaller undifferentiated brands but may benefit major consumer brands in the medium term. To this can be added the medium term probability that some pain relief brands will gain general sale list status (GSL) in more European markets - thus providing a mass-market opportunity for major brands.

In broad terms three new business model scenarios are unfolding. These reflect the changing business environment,

First, products with low differentiation from low cost producers will gradually supercede proprietary brands targeting doctors (France, Spain and UK) as generics or as private label brands for wholesalers and retail chains

The second is a transitional scenario with brands moving from prescription based demand to consumer demand. This is, in many ways, an actuality in Germany, Poland and the UK. It has yet to emerge in France or Spain basically because the largest pain relief sub-category, general pain analgesics, is reimbursed in both countries.

The third scenario involves a rationalization of the number of consumer brands and much greater focus on consumer needs and their fulfilment. While this evolving scenario is already under way and to some extent reflects the position of the market in the UK for general analgesics, it will be consolidation of wholesalers and the growth of retail pharmacy chains across Europe that will accelerate it.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c35721