SCHERING-PLOUGH SUN CARE SALES IN 1992 GROW 3.5% TO $ 117 MIL.

SCHERING-PLOUGH SUN CARE SALES IN 1992 GROW 3.5% TO $ 117 MIL. on the strength of the company's leading position in "every market segment of the U.S. sun care industry," the company said in its 1992 annual report. The company's sun care brands include Coppertone, Shade, Tropical Blend, Water Babies and Solarcaine. Schering-Plough predicted that its competitive position in the sun care market was further improved last year with the December approval of the broad-spectrum sunscreen Shade UVAGuard by FDA. The sunscreen combines a UVA protectant Parsol 1789 (avobenzone) with UVB protectant oxybenzone. The company is currently launching the new sunscreen line and has earmarked $ 10 mil. in ad/promo spending to support the introduction. A print ad campaign begins in April. Schering-Plough's ad agency for Shade UVAGuard is Messner Vetere Berger Carey Schmetterer, New York. Schering-Plough also is launching another new sunscreen line - - Coppertone Kids -- early this year, the annual report points out. Coppertone Kids is a six-hour, PABA-free, waterproof sunblock lotion targeted at children aged six to 10. The product will be available in SPFs of 15 and 30. TV and print ads begin running in April. Sun care products accounted for 16.8% of total Schering-Plough HealthCare Products division sales, which declined 3.4% in 1992 to $ 696.2 mil. The decline reflects "volume shortfalls of 6%, tempered by price increases of 3%," the firm said. Decreases in sales of foot care products and OTCs also contributed to the decline. Operating profit for the division dropped 3.7% to $ 149.8 mil. Foot care product sales dipped 1.8% to $ 214 mil. in 1992, accounting for 30.7% of HealthCare Products division sales. Earlier this month, Schering announced the launch of a revamped Dr. Scholl's line that doubled the firm's previous foot care offerings ("The Tan Sheet" March 8, p. 10). The company noted that sales of its Lotrimin AF athlete's foot product moved ahead, making the product the best-selling antifungal in North America. Schering-Plough added that Tinactin is the number two antifungal. The firm's other foot care brands include the Clear Away, DuoFilm and DuoPlant wart remover products. Generating the largest portion (49.7%) of HealthCare Products sales, the OTC segment had 1992 sales of $ 346 mil., down 8%, representing 8.5% of total sales. The other Health Care segment had 1992 sales of $ 19 mil. and accounted for the balance of HealthCare Products sales.