A small pharmaceutical firm in West Sussex is tapping into the US market after its air-activated decongestant won over the High Street.

Warmways Healthcare, of Arundel, was formed two years ago and already supplies shops including Superdrug, Mothercare, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Now the firm, which operates under its brand name Viora, is talking to a major US retailer about a possible two million-carton shipment, more than twice the size of the company's UK orders.

Viora's main product is the Breathe Clearly decongestant, launched in 2002, but the range also includes insect repellents and sleeping aids.

Father-of-five Keith Atkinson, 48, founded Warmways after being introduced to exothermic technology, where a substance warms up when exposed to the air.

He designed a decongestant using fragranced oils which release vapours into the air.

Tuesday April 27, 2004