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Novartis Wins Landmark Case Against German Government Over Desloratadine Switch

 
• By David Ridley

Generics giant Novartis through its Hexal subsidiary has won an important case against the German Ministry of Health over a delayed prescription-to-OTC switch of desloratadine, which shows European Union Member States have got the authority to switch at a national level centrally authorized drugs. 

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• Source: Shutterstock

German allergy sufferers will soon be able to get their hands on desloratadine OTC after generics giant Novartis AG won an important case against the country’s Ministry of Health for the drug’s release from prescription-only status.

Despite having received a positive recommendation from Germany’s Expert Committee for Prescription, the Ministry of Health, BMG, blocked the prescription-to-pharmacy-only...

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