Prescription To OTC Switch

UK consumer healthcare industry association PAGB is calling on the UK government to explore the Rx-to-OTC switch of at least 25 OTC products over five years, and work with the country's medicines agency to re-evaluate the restrictive criteria for reclassification. 

In addition to commentary and information about the OTC drug, dietary supplement and cosmetic industries, speakers offered candid remarks on subjects well known across the consumer health industry or well recognized by consumers.

“It's really the elected officials who are making the final determination on what happens. They're really the owners of the teams, you guys in the industry are playing the game we’re refereeing,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf says at Consumer Healthcare Products Association conference.

An end to litigation filed by institutional investors, insurance companies and pension funds comes four CEOs after Perrigo's chief exec during Mylan's tender in 2015, Joseph Papa, resigned to lead another firm in 2016. Plaintiff attorneys are asking for up to 20% of settlement in fees.

Proposal to have panelists rate the strength of efficacy and safety evidence on a numeric scale also draws support in written comments on ways to optimize the advisory committee process. 

David Ball moves from Bayer’s North America business to be Perrigo’s first chief brand and digital officer. He joins CEO who also moved to Perrigo from Bayer with decades of branded product experience.

A draft declaration to be presented to the UN General Assembly in September suggests that a “lack of regulation of over-the-counter use of antimicrobials” is one of the “drivers of antimicrobial resistance.” Industry, however, insists that misuse and over-prescription of antibiotics are the primary drivers of AMR, and is advocating for the text to be amended accordingly. 

Germany's Expert Committee on Prescription recommends the Rx-to-OTC switch of an azelastine and fluticasone propionate combination nasal spray, the second time around. Low-cost smoking cessation drug cytisine, on the other hand, is denied - also the second time it has appeared before the committee.  

Agency used a 10-year average with updated figures to calculate FY2025 PDUFA application fee and limit impact of submission volatility, but still allowed GDUFA and BsUFA fees to skyrocket.

Marketing authorizations for OTC medicines could be rejected if their environmental risk assessments do not meet new requirements proposed within the EU pharma legislation revision. HBW Insight speaks to regulatory law experts Tine Carmeliet and Eline D'Joos to find out what you need to know about the new rules.