Nicholas Hall Awards - 2017 Winners

Most Innovative European New Product of the Year Award 2017

Winner: OMNI-BIOTIC Hexon (Institut AllergoSan)

2nd place: MaxOn Active (Grupa Adamed)

Joint 3rd place: ACATAR (USP Zdrowie)

Shortlisted companies were invited to give an overview of their products to delegates before the vote for Europe's Most Innovative New Product of the Year. USP Zdrowie got things underway, with Anna Czyz, Marketing Director - Cold & Allergy, detailing the addition of a natural-based sub-line to the Acator cold & flu brand in 2016: Acatar Complex (supplement), Acatar Hipertonic and Acatar Hydrocare (both medical devices).

However, delegates weremost impressed with AllergoSan's OMNI-BIOTIC Hetox probiotic. The company's Managing Director, Stephan Klemen, explained that the product was launched initially in Austrian and German pharmacies in March 2016, then rolled out in Switzerland in September, backed by various studies showing efficacy in relieving liver cirrhosis. Following a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers concluded that, "probiotic supplementation may be a well-tolerated method to maintain or even improve liver function in stable cirrhosis." Through balancing intestinal flora and strengthening the intestinal barrier, OMNI-BIOTIC Hetox helps reduce the so-called "leaky gut", whereby toxins pass more easily through the barrier and into the blood stream, where they can overload the liver and reduce its effectiveness in detoxifying the blood. A worthy winner!

Most Innovative Global OTC Marketing Campaign 2017

Winner: Sudocrem (Teva, UK)

2nd place: Swisse (PGT, Italy)

Joint 3rd place: Cenovis (Sanofi, S Korea)

Shortlisted companies were invited to give an overview of their products to delegates before the vote for Europe's Most Innovative New Product of the Year. USP Zdrowie got things underway, with Anna Czyz, Marketing Director - Cold & Allergy, detailing the addition of a natural-based sub-line to the Acator cold & flu brand in 2016: Acatar Complex (supplement), Acatar Hipertonic and Acatar Hydrocare (both medical devices).

However, delegates weremost impressed with AllergoSan's OMNI-BIOTIC Hetox probiotic. The company's Managing Director, Stephan Klemen, explained that the product was launched initially in Austrian and German pharmacies in March 2016, then rolled out in Switzerland in September, backed by various studies showing efficacy in relieving liver cirrhosis. Following a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers concluded that, "probiotic supplementation may be a well-tolerated method to maintain or even improve liver function in stable cirrhosis." Through balancing intestinal flora and strengthening the intestinal barrier, OMNI-BIOTIC Hetox helps reduce the so-called "leaky gut", whereby toxins pass more easily through the barrier and into the blood stream, where they can overload the liver and reduce its effectiveness in detoxifying the blood. A worthy winner!

The Colin Borg Award for the Best European OTC Advertising 2017

Winner: Sanispira Allergia (So.Se.Pharm, Italy)

2nd place: Smecta (Ipsen, France)

3rd place: Tantum Verde Forte (Angelini, Russia)

Delegates had eight ads from which to choose the winner of the Colin Borg Award for the BestEuropean OTC Advertising. Angelini’s Tantum Verde Forte?sore throat spray in Russia claimed the No.3 spot, with delegates appreciating a song by rapper Timati which stressed efficacy against inflammation, while highlighting that it allows him to carry on with his busy lifestyle of touring and travel.

In the No.2 spot, a humorousTV ad for Smecta antidiarrhoeal (Ipsen) in France impressed delegates.The spot stressed the inconvenience of diarrhoea, with people singing, “C’est pas le moment” (Now is not the time), in various situations such as getting a massage, lifting weights and while in a hot tub.

However, the prize went to an ad for So.Se.Pharm’s Sanispira Allergia in Italy. With a man put off by a woman’s funny faces when sneezing, the campaign stresses that Sanispira Allergia helps to prevent respiratory allergies by blocking allergens in the nose, while the ad ended with a comical eyebrow-raise caused by a hiccup, alongside the exasperated looking man. Nicholas Hall’s Senior V-P Filomena Pead collected the award on So.Se. Pharm’s behalf to present at a later date.