GSK partners with biotech firm Mammoth Biosciences to develop a home-use OTC nasal swab test for COVID-19 that works in less than 20 minutes. Mammoth says the firms will seek an FDA emergency use authorization for the test, roll it out first to clinics and will seek approval for OTC sales. 

Thync Global’s Zing Energy neurostimulation patch and Tesla Nootropics’ Nubrain Brainstorm caffeine-free water are promoted as alternatives to caffeine and energy drinks. They join a market dominated by big brands but with competition growing from products that boost energy without caffeine and sugar.

The iconic talc-based product will no longer be available for purchase in the US and Canada after supplies run out. Standing firm on the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder, J&J attributes the move to declining demand due to changing consumer habits, misinformation “and a constant barrage of litigation advertising.”

US FDA and FTC warned a California integrative medicine doctor for offering ozone treatment and UV light therapy to prevent COVID-19 as well as a private blogger and an Amazon vendor who recommended vitamins for preventing the virus.

COVID-19 drives hand sanitizer innovation as firms look to solve typical problems such as short microbe-kill treatment periods or risk of infection from sharing sanitizer bottles. Among launches, Breathe aerosol hand sanitizers use compressed air for faster application withouontact, while Disinfectant&Shield claims to kill germs for eight hours.

Factor Nutrition will remove “#1 Brain Health Supplement” claim from Focus Factor supplement and won’t replace it with “America’s #1 Clinically Studied and Patented Brain Health Formula” after the National Advertising Division determines it lacks supporting sales and clinical data.