SB nicotine patch European launch
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
SmithKline Beecham is introducing NiQuitin CQ nicotine patches in the U.K., Belgium and Sweden for pharmacy-only (nonprescription) sale, the company says Nov. 23. SB is devoting $19 mil. to its U.K. marketing campaign, with ads by Ogilvie & Mather. The product is accompanied by a "Committed Quitters" behavior modification program similar to that available with SB's identical U.S. product Nicoderm CQ. NiQuitin will be premium priced in the U.K. to Pharmacia & Upjohn's Nicorette and Novartis' Nicotinell lines. Manufactured by Alza and licensed from Hoescht Marion Roussel, the NiQuitin/NicoDerm products are identical to the Nicabate patch sold in Australia and Sweden, which SB purchased from HMR in September. SB has global marketing rights to the Alza product except in Canada and Korea, where the patch is sold by HMR. Smoking cessation patches have been sold without prescription in European pharmacies for about six years