Leading chemical firms, beauty and consumer health companies, even distilleries and medical marijuana cultivators are adapting operations to meet global demand for hand sanitizers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, plaintiff’s attorneys are busy with multiple class actions against Purell manufacturer GOJO Industries for alleged false advertising following a January warning letter to the firm from the US FDA.

An FDA warning letter issued in August to OTC drug manufacturer Homeolab has revived discussion about companies' options when it comes to investigator photographs during facility inspections, prompting fresh insight from industry attorneys on the issue's legal underpinning and existing case law.

Leading personal-care firms are hopeful that early-stage innovators won’t be the only winners in a competition launching within weeks to identify promising new preservative technologies. Entrants can walk away with a prize of $25,000 or more, but the real draw is the opportunity to partner with a corporate sponsor.

House subcommittee approves DXM Abuse bill; UK ire for US firm’s patch claims; Innophos VP hire; and more news in brief.