France Reverse-Switches Flurbiprofen Against Backdrop Of NSAID Concerns

28 May 2019

France has unexpectedly reverse switched to prescription status flurbiprofen, the active ingredient in Reckitt's Strefen. The move comes shortly after the country's medicines agency warned of serious adverse events related to certain NSAIDs.

France’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has reverse-switched from OTC to prescription status flurbiprofen, the active ingredient in Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC’s Strefen sore throat lozenges, with immediate effect. The move comes shortly after France’s medicines agency, ANSM, warned that using common OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) when suffering from minor bacterial infections could trigger serious health complications, and even lead to death.

A decree published in France’s official journal removes flurbiprofen’s exemption from medical prescription, citing the opinions of the National Academy...