2025
10
A Year of Innovation in OTC Medications 2025
2025-12-19T16:02:04+00:00
REP0A51F8B9_DBE9_4411_91F8_B9DBE9441102
2995
189853
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Report
en_GB
OTC brands return to the basics, focusing on convenience, functional benefits and formats, value and efficacy in new product launches. Ziyu Tian, OTC & Personal Care Research Analyst…
Global
OTC Medications
simple

A Year of Innovation in OTC Medications 2025

"OTC brands return to the basics, focusing on convenience, functional benefits and formats, value and efficacy in new product launches."

Ziyu Tian, OTC & Personal Care Research Analyst

Ziyu Tian, OTC & Personal Care Research Analyst

Explore the latest innovations in OTC medications with Mintel’s global innovation report. The report identifies the major launch activities, pivotal consumer attitudes and most important product developments over the past 12 months.

Key innovation trends in the global OTC medications market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside Mintel’s consumer data and insights. So you can understand changing consumer demands and identify future growth opportunities.

Collapse All
    • What we have seen
    • Our pick of the most innovative launches in this review
    • Other innovative launches
  1. EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA (EMEA)

    • Europe: speed and ease are prioritised
    • Convenience has universal appeal
    • Under-tapped space for convenience beyond speed
    • Graph 1: OTC medication launches, by select convenience claims, 2020-25
    • Stick formats power up easy use and on-the-go occasions
    • Brand innovation: Popmask
    • Europe: private label could win more ground
    • Health at doorsteps
    • Private label launches saw small growth
    • Graph 2: OTC medication launches, branded vs private label, 2020-25
    • Focus on active ingredients
    • Brand innovation: Sainsbury’s Pro Fit
    • The Middle East & Africa (MEA)
    • Gut health focus with additional benefits
  2. ASIA PACIFIC (APAC)

    • Asia: stress-relieving and sleep-aiding benefits hold potential
    • Need to stress less and sleep more
    • A broader focus on stress and sleep
    • Graph 3: OTC medication launches carrying functional – stress & sleep claims, 2020-25
    • Pair natural ingredients with sleep and stress claims
    • Brand innovation: Runben Ding Ding
    • Asia: texture/format innovation have room to grow
    • An ageing population demands easy-to-take formats
    • Room for more format innovation
    • Graph 4: ingestible OTC medication launches, by format types, 2020-25
    • Dissolve for faster and safer consumption
    • Brand innovation: Medison Bell
    • Australia & New Zealand: in need for innovation
    • Flavour innovations in OTC medication
  3. THE AMERICAS

    • North America: economy offerings
    • Cost concerns drive demand for affordable choices
    • Economy launches tripled
    • Explore day part-specific remedies for full protection
    • Brand renovation: Halls
    • North America: targeted relief for elevated efficacy
    • Consumers value targeted treatments
    • Room to fine-turn efficacy-maxxing
    • Graph 5: OTC medication launches carrying efficacy-maxxing* claims, 2020-25
    • Targeted relief with maximum effect
    • Brand innovation: PBZ OTC
    • Latin America: digestive health in focus
    • Consumers are going for gut health
    • Graph 6: OTC medication launches, by select functional claims, 2020-25
    • Brands are innovating around pre-/probiotics

What is 'A Year of Innovation' Report?

To truly understand a market, it’s essential to look at the products that are shaping it. Our ‘A Year of Innovation’ reports provide a detailed review of specific categories, focusing on the most notable product launches from the past 12 months. These reports are designed to give you a clear and comprehensive picture of recent innovation and its impact.

How We Analyse a Year of Innovation

By deconstructing the past year’s activity, we can provide valuable context for your current and future strategies. Here’s how we do it.

A Deep Dive into Product Launches

The core of these reports is a thorough examination of new products. We go beyond simply listing what’s new. Our analysis delves into the “why” behind each product launch, exploring the strategies, ingredients, and marketing claims that are driving innovation. This helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and where the market is headed.

Powered by the Global New Products Database (GNPD)

Our insights are built on a foundation of robust data from Mintel’s Global New Products Database (GNPD). This powerful tool tracks and catalogues new product launches from around the world. By leveraging the GNPD, we offer a complete exploration of innovative activity within your category, ensuring our analysis is comprehensive, accurate, and relevant.

Uncovering Trends and Consumer Shifts

Our ‘A Year of Innovation’ reports are designed to equip you with actionable insights into how to lead innovation in your category. By studying recent product launches, we can identify shifting consumer habits and preferences. These reports help you connect the dots between what consumers want and how companies are responding. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of emerging trends, allowing you to refine your own product development and marketing strategies with confidence.

For a more detailed look at a Year of Innovation report, take a look at a sample PDF report below.
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables have been redacted.
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