1. Cough Medicine
03 October 2018
The Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) seeks to reassure Australians that cough and cold medicines containing pholcodine have a long history of use and a well-established, favourable safety profile.
Pholcodine is used as a common cough suppressant and is an active ingredient in some cough and cold products available over-the-counter in pharmacies.
In Australia, cough and cold medicines are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) and products containing pholcodine have been used by Australians for more than 30 years.
The TGA is one of the most highly respected regulators in the world.
Reports of a link between pholcodine use and anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents during surgery are hypothetical.
There are many uncertainties and inconsistencies in what’s known as the ‘pholcodine hypothesis,’ and a causative effect has not been demonstrated.
The reports do not present any new data or research to support their claims. T
he TGA noted, via Channel 9, that an ‘international review found evidence for the link was weak but that it continues to monitor the issue.’
ASMI and our members continue to monitor the safety of cough and cold products containing pholcodine and encourage Australians to seek the advice of a healthcare professional if unsure.
2. 2018 Diamond Award Winners
18 October 2018
The Australian Self Medication Industry (ASMI) Diamond Award winners were announced tonight at their annual Gala Dinner celebrating excellence in the non-prescription medicines industry.
“Congratulations to all the winners of an ASMI Diamond Award. We had many high-quality entries to the 2018 Diamond Awards and I encourage the industry to continue to strive for excellence over the next year,” said Deon Schoombie, CEO of ASMI.
“The ASMI Diamond Awards recognise manufacturers and suppliers that excel in the fields of marketing and sales, as well as Quality Use of Medicine, innovation and best practice.”
“We recognised three new fields of marketing excellence this year, with Awards for Best Digital / Social Media Campaign, Best PR Campaign and Best Data Strategy.”
The ASMI Gala Dinner and Diamond Awards were held at the Kirribilli Club and attended by ASMI member companies, advertising agencies and key stakeholders in the non-prescription medicine industry, on Thursday 18 October.
“Thank you to our independent judges, as well as iLearning Group for supporting the Sales Awards again this year.”
Ego & GSK dominate Sales Awards
Ego Pharmaceuticals and GSK Consumer Healthcare have dominated this year’s Sales Awards – winning both the Pharmacy Sales Excellence and Quality Use of Medicines Excellence Awards in their respective categories.
About
A panel of independent judges assessed the Marketing Awards on the campaign challenge, objectives, strategy, execution, health literacy focus and results:
- Amaury Treguer, Health Haus
- Anne-Marie Sparrow, Cube
- Nicole Barry, IRI
- Sanda Sgambellone, Semcom
- Steven Waller, Steven Waller Consulting
- Tricia Greenway, Consumer Consultant
The Sales Awards are based on a survey of 240 pharmacists and 500 pharmacy assistants conducted by the iLearning Group.
Pharmacists and pharmacy assistants rated ASMI member companies on nine attributes.
| MARKETING AWARDS | ||
| Campaign Name | Company | Agency |
| Best Marketing Campaign of a Consumer Healthcare Product – Large Budget (>$1m) | ||
| Nuromol – A Proven Alternative to Codeine for Pain Relief | RB | CHE Proximity |
| Best Marketing Campaign of a Consumer Healthcare Product – Small Budget (<$1m) | ||
| Hydralyte Sports
Surfing Australia Partnership |
Care Pharmaceuticals | N/A |
| Best Data Strategy | ||
| Redefining the Allergy & Decongestants Category | Bayer Australia | N/A |
| Best Professional Marketing Campaign | ||
| Life Is Harsh On
The Skin They’re In |
Ego Pharmaceuticals | Sudler & Hennessey |
| Best Digital / Social Media Campaign | ||
| Children’s Panadol Digital Pilot | GSK Consumer Healthcare | PHD Meredith Ansoul |
| Best Consumer Healthcare Product Launch | ||
| FeverSmart Integrated Campaign | RB | CHE Proximity |
| Best PR Campaign | ||
| Panadol – Home of Reconnection | GSK Consumer Healthcare | Creative: whiteGREY
PR: Edelman |
| SALES AWARDS | |
| Pharmacy Sales Excellence < $100m | |
| Winner | Ego Pharmaceuticals |
| Runner-Up | Apotex & Aspen Pharmacare Australia |
| Pharmacy Sales Excellence > $100m | |
| Winner | GSK Consumer Healthcare |
| Runner-Up | Bayer Australia & Johnson & Johnson Pacific |
| Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Excellence > $100m | |
| Winner | GSK Consumer Healthcare |
| Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Excellence < $100m | |
| Winner | Ego Pharmaceuticals |