STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF (INTER)NATIONAL BRANDS: IKEA, L’ORÉAL, STARBUCKS AND FORD, BASED ON THE OPINION OF CONSUMERS

In our everyday lives the presence of global brands is indisputable, as we decorate our homes with furnishings, purchase cosmetics to reverse the time, use services to make our everyday lives more enjoyable and purchase cars, all of which are available in several countries. It is also true that we typically buy and use those products and services that contribute to our personal appearance and to the development of our personality. In addition, the country of origin of a given product/brand also plays an important role in our purchasing decision. There are products/brands that we immediately associate with a particular country and nation, but there are countries to which we cannot associate any product or brand. This paper analyses the consumer opinions of international brands that are strongly associated with a particular country. The objectives of the analyses are the following: to identify (1) the strengths - (2) weaknesses of IKEA, L’Oréal, Starbucks and Ford, (3) to identify those factors, based on the results, that have an important role in case of two (inter)national brands at least, even though they represent different products/services, and finally, (4) to describe the opinion of the participants. JEL Classification: M3

Convergent cross-species pro-cognitive effects of RGH-235, a new potent and selective histamine H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist

The histamine H3 receptor is a favourable target for the treatment of cognitive deficits. Here we report the in vitro and in vivo profile of RGH-235, a new potent, selective, and orally active H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist developed by Gedeon Richter Plc. Radioligand binding and functional assays were used for in vitro profiling. Procognitive efficacy was investigated in rodent cognitive tests, in models of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and in cognitive tests of high translational value (rat touch screen visual discrimination test, primate fixed-foreperiod visual reaction time task). Results were supported by pharmacokinetic studies, neurotransmitter release, sleep EEG and dipsogenia. RGH-235 displayed high affinity to H3 receptors (Ki = 3.0–9.2 nM, depending on species), without affinity to H1, H2 or H4 receptors and >100 other targets. RGH-235 was an inverse agonist ([35S] GTPγS binding) and antagonist (pERK1/2 ELISA), showing favourable kinetics, inhibition of the imetit-induced dipsogenia and moderate effects on sleep-wake EEG. RGH-235 stimulated neurotransmitter release both in vitro and in vivo. RGH-235 was active in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), generally considered as a model of ADHD, and revealed a robust pro-cognitive profile both in rodent and primate tests (in 0.3–1 mg/kg) and in models of high translational value (e.g. in a rodent touch screen test and in non-human primates). The multiple and convergent procognitive effects of RGH-235 support the view that beneficial cognitive effects can be linked to antagonism/inverse agonism of H3 receptors