A turning point in German healthcare! Are we moving closer to the US model? PanGenomic Health, Bayer, and Nestlé

Bayer focuses on the usual suspects in self-medication

With its Consumer Health Division, German chemical and pharmaceutical company Bayer is well-positioned to benefit from the trend toward increased self-medication. Bayer offers OTC medicines in the areas of dermatology, allergies and colds, nutritional supplements, gastrointestinal health, pain management and cardiovascular health. In 2024, the division generated revenue of EUR 5.8 billion. However, in order to keep pace with the current trend toward comprehensive self-medication, Bayer could expand into other areas. In the US, patients can even treat hormonal fluctuations with the help of laboratory tests and dietary supplements, which, like peptides, are more like medical precursors. Bayer's Consumer Health Division does not yet offer such complex active ingredients. However, corresponding acquisitions are possible at any time. In Germany, such interventions in the body are not desired despite the need for cost-cutting in the healthcare system. They are likely to remain the subject of medical consultations for the foreseeable future.

Nestlé: Nutrition for weight loss injections? The market remains skeptical!

The food giant Nestlé is pursuing a different strategy through its Nestlé Health Science division, which offers typical dietary supplements such as vitamins and minerals. Nutrition for sick people plays a key role here. For instance, Nestlé has developed products aimed at supporting weight loss, or "weight management" as it is now commonly called. Nestlé is deliberately targeting patients who use so-called weight loss injections by offering specialized foods tailored to their nutritional needs. These foods are high in protein, iron, and calcium. However, since the initiative was announced in the middle of last year, the market remains skeptical - protein and micronutrients are not unique selling points for Nestlé and can be found in products from mainstream supermarkets.

PanGenomic Health: The doctor in your pocket

The young Canadian company PanGenomic Health offers a more precise and unique selling point in the field of personalized medicine. The Company offers apps and support for digital self-medication. Users can analyze their ailments and problems, provide additional data, and receive tailored treatment recommendations. PanGenomic Health's tools take into account the wide range of dietary supplements available, especially in the US. There, supplements targeting better sleep, more energy or cognitive focus have long contained active ingredients that ensure the products are effective even for severe conditions, in ways comparable to traditional medications. Added to this is the availability of a comprehensive range of over-the-counter active ingredients, giving users greater autonomy in managing their health.

PanGenomic Health can sell its own supplements or products from partners through its app, generating additional revenue. Thanks to AI, PanGenomic Health accesses a wide variety of data and makes practical treatment recommendations that users can continually adjust based on their feedback. This makes self-medication a breeze and ensures that patients receive help even without health insurance. If, in the wake of general cost pressures in the healthcare sector, other countries follow suit and liberalize the market for medicines and dietary supplements, as health economist Wasem is calling for, an even larger market could emerge for PanGenomic Health. The Company currently operates only in Canada and the US.

One trend – One stock: PanGenomic Health

Given its digital business model, the rollout of its own services in other regions of the world is likely to be associated with significant economies of scale. This fantasy is also reflected in the stock at the moment – its value climbed significantly within a few months and is currently trading around the EUR 1 mark. Even after the significant rise in the share price, the Company remains valued at only EUR 13.2 million. Given the global trend toward self-medication and more conscious living, PanGenomic Health's technology offers great potential – both for the Company itself and within the industry as a potential cooperation partner.

People who use over-the-counter medicines and other active ingredients need expert support. This is something that PanGenomic Health's apps can offer. While the shares of Nestlé and Bayer reflect many trends and are rather conservative investments from a market perspective, PanGenomic shares clearly reflect the growth potential of the self-medication market.