New, unique taste-free acetaminophen expands children's analgesic/anti-pyretic market

Drug Store News, Sept 30, 1991

New, Unique Taste-Free Acetaminophen Expands Children's Analgesic/Anti-Pyretic Market

When a child is ill with fever and pain, parents are naturally anxious to comply with the pediatrician's recommendation. They want to relieve the child's symptoms as quickly as possible, while minimizing chances of any long-term effects of an illness. A problem, until recently, was that many children resisted the bitter taste of existing acetaminophen drops and elixirs.

Now there's breakthrough in pediatric fever and paid reducers, NEW Feverall [R] Sprinkle Caps [TM] taste-free acetaminophen powder. Simply sprinkle the taste-free powder onto a teaspoon of a child's favorite drink and administer. In addition to being taste-free, Feverall [R] Sprinkle Caps [TM] are dye-free (so they won't stain clothing or cause adverse reactions sometimes associated with dyes) and are available in easy, accurate, pre-measured doses.

This unique taste-masked product was developed to help increase children's acceptance and compliance, and it is creating a solid, loyal following among physicians, nurses, pharmacists and parents.

Feverall [R] is also available in suppository form for those pediatric patients experiencing difficulties swallowing due to nausea, vomiting or who are simply resisting oral forms of acetaminophen.

The Feverall [R] product line overcomes unmet needs with two unique dosage forms. They are generally not price sensitive enabling drug store operators to earn significant margins on these fast-turning SKUs.

Of the total $550 million U.S. acetaminophen markets, the pediatric business accounts for over $150 million. Retail sales show that acetaminophen suppositories are the fastest growing segment, up 20% in 1989 and 23% in 1990. By comparison, the drops and elixirs are up only 5% while the tablet and caplet forms are down 11%.

Stocked "out-front" for over-the-counter sales, taste-free Feverall [R] Sprinkle Caps [TM] are available in 80mg and 160mg strengths in packages of 20's. Feverall [R] suppositories are available in 120mg and 325mg strengths in packages of 6's.

The Feverall [R] product line is being promoted to all U.S. pediatricians and U.S. pharmacies, as well as selected family and general practitioners, nurses and physician assistants. Aggressive sampling continues to generate abundant recommendations from these health care professionals.

The credibility of Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. in both the hospital and retail markets, plus high levels of physician and nurse recommendations, combine to create built-in demand for the entire Feverall [R] line. The Feverall [R] line is a strong performer and solid profit opportunity in the pediatric analgesic/anti-pyretic category.