J&J Is Said to Consider Sale of Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Nizoral

(Bloomberg) -- Johnson & Johnson is considering a sale of its anti-dandruff shampoo Nizoral as the U.S. health-care giant continues to streamline its portfolio of products, according to people familiar with the matter.

A sale of Nizoral could be valued at a few hundred million dollars and attract other health-care and consumer companies with an interest in over-the-counter treatments, the people said, asking not to be identified because the deliberations are private. J&J is working with financial advisers on the sale, which is at a preliminary stage, the people said.

A spokesman for J&J declined to comment.

J&J has been reviewing products ranging from its over-the-counter business to medical devices. Earlier this year, it agreed to sell its blister and lip-care treatment Compeed to HRA Pharma. It's also considering a divestiture of its vaginal-mesh surgical product, which could fetch from $500 million to $1 billion, people familiar with the matter have said. J&J is also evaluating options for the diabetes-care business, including a sale, partnership or joint venture.

While the health-care conglomerate has major medical-device and consumer divisions, drugs have been a recent standout. That's helped J&J outpace many of its large pharmaceutical rivals this year. After buying Actelion Ltd. for $30 billion this year, Johnson & Johnson has signaled that a new generation of medicines holds the key to its future profits as some of its best-selling drugs begin to lose dominance.

--With assistance from Jared S. Hopkins

To contact the reporter on this story: Manuel Baigorri in London at mbaigorri@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Dinesh Nair at dnair5@bloomberg.net, John J. Edwards III

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