OTC Drugs

Canada’s shortage of children’s analgesic/antipyretic OTCs in 2022 as COVID-19 and seasonal flu virus combined to drive stockpiling by consumers. Some poison control centers and hospitals offered recommendations about modifying adult doses to pediatric use.

Questions from researchers and public health advocates during workshop to discuss FDA authority under PREA Act point to agency and OTC NDA sponsors having additional boxes to check on potential unmet needs in drugs indicated for children and specifically on clarity of labeling for consumers of low health literacy, narrowing indications to prevent confusion and education about OTC drug formulations for health care providers.

Opill marketer Perrigo builds on marketing collaboration with WNA in partnership with Napheesa Collier; Bucked Up partners with MMA champion and entrepreneur Conor McGregor; and Recover 180 collaborates with NBA players.

Proposed administrative order likely is first to prompt opposition from OTC industry or other stakeholders potentially delaying or deferring the agency’s expectation for moving its proposal to a deemed final order effective one year after it would be published.

“The infant formula business is recovering and we've taken actions to simplify and consumerize our business, but there's a lot more work to do,” says CEO Patrick Lockwood-Taylor as Perrigo’s announced latest results.

Firm’s future, as a separate business nearly 90% owned by Bausch Health, or as a standalone with different ownership or one not controlled by a majority owner, claims high profile in analysts’ comments and predictions. B+L is in the driver’s seat, they say.

Supreme Court’s Loper Bright “decision is central to this case,” says Jonathan Emord, attorney representing Alliance for Natural Health USA and Meditrend Inc. in a complaint filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia.

Reckitt backs up prediction for strong sales during current quarter with advertising featuring a beauty queen and a line extension for Mucinex, one its strongest US consumer health product lines.

FDA’s OTC office director details a 2023 guidance as opening doors for NRT innovation at recent public meeting, but researchers and an industry executive note the most recent approval in the US for an innovative NRT was more than 20 years ago and say FDA isn’t allowing sufficient flexibility for approvals of new products or indications other than cessation related to quitting smoking.

FDA tobacco programs chief emphasizes moving smokers to lower risk alternatives and NIDA executive encourages proposals for e-cigarettes as nicotine replacement treatments. FDA also seizes $76m in unauthorized e-cigarettes.