May 1 (Reuters) - Consumer healthcare company Haleon ( HLN )

reported first-quarter revenue slightly below market

estimates on Wednesday, due to retailer destocking in U.S. and

cooling demand for some of its medicines after a surge last

year.

The maker of popular household products such as Sensodyne

toothpaste and pain-reliever Panadol, had earlier said that the

first three months of 2024 would be impacted by a softer cold

and flu season and a slowdown in painkiller Advil's sales in

Canada, following a surge in demand last year.

Demand for medicines such as Contac and Fenbid, which

benefited from pent-up demand in China last year after lockdown

restrictions were lifted have also cooled, impacting Haleon's ( HLN )

quarterly sales growth.

Revenues stood at 2.92 billion pounds ($3.64 billion) for

the quarter ended March 31, slightly missing expectations of

2.93 billion pounds, according to a company-compiled consensus.

On a reported basis, revenue was down 2.2% on last year.

Shares in the FTSE 100 group fell 1.8% in early

trading, to become one of the top losers on the blue-chip index.

The stock has risen about 5% this year as of Tuesday's close.

Haleon ( HLN ), the world's biggest standalone consumer health

company, comprising assets from GSK and Pfizer ( PFE ),

sells non-prescription drugs, vitamins and oral care products.

Demand for its oral health products and multivitamins held

steady during the reported quarter, and the company re-affirmed

its full-year outlook outlined in February.

($1 = 0.8021 pounds)