Annual report 2018

22 | Galenica annual report 2018 Health & Beauty Segment – Products & Brands Business sector New partnership with Spagyros Responding to the growing demand for complementary med- icines, Verfora entered into a strategic partnership with the Swiss company Spagyros in 2018. In this context, Galenica has also acquired a small minority stake. Since its foundation in 1985, the company has striven to produce the highest quality remedies. Spagyros is a GMP-certified pharmaceu- tical company that manufactures all its medicines entirely by hand in Switzerland. With Spagyros, Verfora has established a new quality of partnership that ensures long-term access to a first-class range of complementary medical advice. It includes a close internal collaboration with Galenica’s Retail Business sector to ensure the education and training of employees at the point of sale. Outlook Dermafora ® : new own derma-cosmetics range from 2019 Verfora will further strengthen its market position with its new and distinct identity. Further investment is planned into new exclusive partnerships, product improvements and employee training. Several new product launches are planned in 2019. Most notably Verfora can enhance its presence in the beauty market by introducing the new own derma-cos- metic brand Dermafora ® , which has been available from Amavita, Sun Store and Coop Vitality pharmacies since early 2019. Furthermore, Verfora took on responsibility for the domestic distribution of the well-known Vicks ® brand products for cold, flu and cough relief, and of Metamucil ® from Procter & Gamble at the beginning of 2019. This col- laboration with an international pharmaceutical company shows once again that Verfora has positioned itself in the Swiss market as an attractive partner for international brand owners. Verfora will also be introducing a new Triomer ® spray version against colds in 2019. “2019 will see the launch of several new products and innovations, including the new own derma-cosmetic brand Dermafora ® .” Products & Brands