Kategorie: News

A strong brand heritage, a more attractive product and smarter marketing is driving the success of the Similasan eye-care brand following its recent relaunch into the Netherlands, according to Harm-Jan Schuurman, head of the Swiss homoeopathic firm’s Dutch subsidiary.

Speaking exclusively to OTC bulletin, Schuurman pointed out that the firm had combined these three elements to establish itself as a top-five player in the eye-care category with a 10% share, following the return of its Similasan Oogdruppels Nr.1 and Nr.2 eye drops to the Dutch market in 2014 after a two-year absence.

Specialists in developing international markets for healthcare brands – GBT Pharma – have announced a host of new appointments to the senior management team.

GBT Pharma supports market leading healthcare companies in securing international market success, providing guidance across all market specific regulatory, legal and marketing requirements.

The company was launched in Fribourg, Switzerland in 2010 by Dr Gian Trepp, a biochemist with over 20 years expertise in consumer healthcare. GBT Pharma subsidiaries were launched in Latin America and Europe in 2015 to support the buoyant business growth in these regions.

Three new appointments will feature across regulatory affairs, strategic healthcare marketing and project management functions.

Taking up the role of project manager based in Switzerland is Sandra Unger, a specialist in portfolio marketing strategy and cross-functional project co-ordination in the pharmaceutical and healthcare arena. Sandra will be working closely with GBT Pharma CEO Gian Trepp overseeing all international projects.

Bolstering the Latin American branch of GBT Pharma in Costa Rica is Melba Steinvorth. With over 15 years experience in regulatory affairs in particular in the Latin American region, Melba is also a certified official translator for English, German and Spanish.

Completing the list of new hires is Andrés Omaña, also based in Costa Rica. With over a decade in pharmaceutical marketing for companies such as Sanofi Aventis Venezuela, Andrés will be overseeing the strategic sales and marketing function for GBT Pharma in LATAM.

Dr Gian Trepp, CEO of GBT Pharma comments: “We have experienced strong growth since the business was founded over 5 years ago, having successfully implemented sustainable market entry for a wealth of consumer healthcare companies.

“I am delighted to welcome Sandra, Melba and Andrés to the team, each highly qualified in their field and the perfect compliment to GBT Pharma’s existing business operations across Latin America and Europe.

‚Clients both longstanding and new can be further reassured they are in the best possible hands to ensure their growth in new markets,” added Gian.

International market entry specialists – GBT Pharma – have been appointed by Iscador Ltd to build international presence for its anthroposophic mistletoe preparation, Iscador.

Iscador is a prescription only drug formulated using specific mistletoe extracts, used for the adjuvant treatment of tumorous diseases in the field of integrative oncology.

GBT Pharma’s brief is to take over the existing business, build the infrastructure and grow global distribution.

In ancient times mistletoe was renowned for its medicinal properties and used to treat a wide range of ailments. For almost one hundred years it has also been applied in anthroposophic cancer therapy.

Iscador, and its use in cancer treatment first became a possibility in 1907 when philosopher Rudolf Steiner founded the Anthroposophical movement, which led to many innovations in pharmaceutical and therapeutic concepts. Notably in 1917, Dr. Ita Wegman used a mistletoe extract to treat a cancer patient for the very first time.

Anthroposophic mistletoe preparations are produced by a special blending process of extracts from mistletoes, harvested in summer and winter to ensure the extraction of specific seasonal properties of the plant. The preparations comprise total extracts of the mistletoe and a complex range of agents.

Iscador Ltd was founded on the work of the Hiscia Institute where mistletoe preparations have been produced for more than six decades. As part of their mission to develop pharmaceuticals for oncological use, Iscador undertakes significant research in the field of mistletoe and cancer.

GBT Pharma has a proven portfolio in facilitating new market access for consumer healthcare companies across the globe.

GBT Pharma founder Gian Trepp comments: “We are delighted to be working with this historic brand which has been instrumental in pioneering knowledge of the use of mistletoe extracts in the adjuvant treatment of cancer.

«Our mission is to identify and secure suitable partners to distribute this innovative therapy across the world. Our first target will be the Swiss market, before widening our approach to cover the worldwide markets.”

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