In the research and development center of the Consumer Health Care business unit, Viktoria Gladkova and Doris Geißler check samples of the non-prescription cold treatment Nasivin®
© Merck
© Merck
Innovative cold medicine
It all started with the discovery of the active agent for Nasivin®: The oxymetazoline originally synthesized by Merck employees Wolfgang Fruhstorfer and Helmut Müller-Calgan made a huge impression when it was found to quickly relieve stuffy noses. The substance constricts the small blood vessels in mucous membranes. This causes swelling in the nose to go down, which frees up the nasal passages. Continuous research with Nasivin® in the years after the market launch of the nose drops led to the realization that the product was even more effective than was first thought.
It was discovered, for example, that OMZ not only reduced swelling but also helped prevent infections and attacked the rhinoviruses that cause stuffy noses. Research has led to extensive knowledge of Nasivin®, according to Baumeister, who also says that’s one reason why Nasivin® was the only cold treatment approved for treating acute rhinitis in Germany in 2005.
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50 years of the colorful world of Nasivin®
A half a century of Nasivin® also means 50 years of advertising for the product family. The ad exhibits in the Merck company archives tell the story of a cold treatment from the perspective of its public perception. The beginning was marked by motifs that were almost scientific in their appearance — like the stick figure from the 1960s that took the form of the molecular structure of the active ingredient oxymetazoline.
Nevertheless, the most prominent depictions of the nose drops and spray were to be found in ad campaigns like those featuring the little Nasivin® cartoon man , as well as one with the slogan: “He’s got a runny nose — but he’s also got Nasivin®.”
It all started with the discovery of the active agent for Nasivin®: The oxymetazoline originally synthesized by Merck employees Wolfgang Fruhstorfer and Helmut Müller-Calgan made a huge impression when it was found to quickly relieve stuffy noses. The substance constricts the small blood vessels in mucous membranes. This causes swelling in the nose to go down, which frees up the nasal passages. Continuous research with Nasivin® in the years after the market launch of the nose drops led to the realization that the product was even more effective than was first thought.
It was discovered, for example, that OMZ not only reduced swelling but also helped prevent infections and attacked the rhinoviruses that cause stuffy noses. Research has led to extensive knowledge of Nasivin®, according to Baumeister, who also says that’s one reason why Nasivin® was the only cold treatment approved for treating acute rhinitis in Germany in 2005.
Nasivin®, which was also named “Drug of the Year” by the German Association of Pharmacists (BVDA) in 2009, is currently prescribed in Germany for the treatment of three types of conditions: acute colds (rhinitis acuta), allergic runny noses (rhinitis allergica), and spasmatic runny noses (rhinitis vasomotorica). It’s also used to reduce swelling of mucous membranes and to inhibit secretion drainage in paranasal sinus infections and tube catarrh associated with colds.
50 years of advertising
Image {count} of {total}A half a century of Nasivin® also means 50 years of advertising for the product family. The ad exhibits in the Merck company archives tell the story of a cold treatment from the perspective of its public perception. The beginning was marked by motifs that were almost scientific in their appearance — like the stick figure from the 1960s that took the form of the molecular structure of the active ingredient oxymetazoline.
Nevertheless, the most prominent depictions of the nose drops and spray were to be found in ad campaigns like those featuring the little Nasivin® cartoon man , as well as one with the slogan: “He’s got a runny nose — but he’s also got Nasivin®.”
The development of new methods for administering the treatment, and its entry into new markets, have also led to a greater variety of advertising. Today there are commercials like the one for the Indian market, which features a young man who is able to make a business presentation despite his sniffles because his ever-attentive mother has packed away a little bottle of Nasivion® in his travel bag. Another commercial shows a musician who has won an MTV music award with his band, says König.
And what about the sassy sticker from 1985? Well, NASA probably wasn’t too upset about it. After all, the space agency was providing its astronauts with oxymetazoline way back in 1969.
