Over The Counter (OTC)
Five things for pharma marketers to know: Tuesday, December 12, 2017
December 12, 2017FDA issues prescription drug promotion guidance; FDA approves first follow-on biologic of Lilly's Humalog; drugmakers allegedly hired nurses to promote drugs
GSK's Flonase tops allergy category
June 01, 2015The new OTC medication almost hit $100 million in sales in its first 16 weeks on the market.
Poll: Patients rely on others to help with OTC choices
May 04, 2015A Pfizer poll shows patients rely on over-the-counter medications but need help finding the right treatment.
Johnson & Johnson, GSK settle dispute over OTC advertising claims
April 01, 2015Johnson & Johnson alleged that misleading advertising threatened the $13.2 million in average weekly sales it makes during prime allergy sales season.
Japan seeks more OTC medications
April 01, 2015The government is asking consumers which ones they prefer.
Pfizer takes issue with Little Remedies
March 18, 2015The drugmaker, which markets the Dimetapp cough and cold line, sent a complaint to the Better Business Bureaus.
GSK re-launches OTC diet pill
February 25, 2015The over-the-counter weight-loss drug Alli saw a return to drugstores this week after a year hiatus.
GSK launches Flonase OTC
February 11, 2015The initial push includes a behind-the-scenes Tumblr and broadcast plans are being finalized.
Pfizer challenges Novartis OTC ad claims
January 12, 2015Pfizer, through the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division, disputes that Novartis's Theraflu 'starts to work in the body in 5 minutes.'
New OTC Nexium approved
March 31, 2014The FDA has approved a 24-hour version of Pfizer's heartburn medication.
FDA seeks flexible OTC review process
February 24, 2014The agency says is it time to update the onerous decades-old review process.
FDA panel to review NSAIDs this month
February 04, 2014A panel is meeting February 10 to discuss revoking the OTC status of some medications.
Discontinued OTC asthma med may make comeback
January 08, 2014An FDA committee is poised to review a new Primatene Mist in February.
J&J posts third-quarter progress
October 15, 2013The company beat consensus estimates, with particular sales strengths from its pharmaceuticals division.
Business briefs: Sanofi, Gilead, Eli Lilly, Boehringer, Girl Scouts
September 12, 2013Sanofi pulls GLP-1 diabetes med from FDA review; Gilead files oncology drug; BI/Lilly reveals results of head-to-head trial of its SGLT2 inhibitor vs. Januvia; BI campaign animates heartburn market; Girl Scouts take on mental health
Valeant leverages Rx sales force, YouTube for OTC brand
September 12, 2013The company is supporting its professional pitch for the acne drug with a micro-targeted marketing strategy.
Business briefs: Sanofi, Celgene, plus changing cancer definitions
July 30, 2013Sanofi may make OTC history; Celgene joins a new collaboration; and the US Task Force of Preventative Medicine wants to make lung cancer screening the norm
Business briefs: Teva, AbbVie, Novartis, Wockhardt
July 24, 2013FDA grants Teva three years exclusivity to sell Plan B OTC for all ages; FDA gives Humira a thumbs-down for spondyloarthritis; a UK vaccine committee rejects Novartis' meningitis B shot; and Wockhardt gets a warning letter from FDA for its manufacturing practices at an Indian plant.
Not buying it: Medical professionals go generic, study shows
June 27, 2013Researchers quantify the rate at which doctors, nurses and pharmacists buy off-label OTC drugs.
Merck's Heller on how to get more women into the C-suite
May 14, 2013Bridgette Heller, Merck EVP and president of its consumer care division, adjured life-sci managers to enable women to unleash the full power of their knowledge and ideas to drive growth in the business.
For consumers, price isn't just a financial factor
February 06, 2013A pair of studies suggests that consumers are hungry for information, and that price determines how patients perceive their risk for life-threatening conditions.
J&J OTC sales slipped 3% in 2012 worldwide
January 22, 2013CEO Alex Gorsky said OTC brands are coming back. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical sales provided ballast to the year's numbers.
Company news: Sanofi, Elsevier
January 08, 2013Rolaids gets a French twist, and Elsevier packs the second week of the year with two news items.
Company news: Novo Nordisk
November 27, 2012Novo Nordisk has launched a hemophilia app; and a report says the Chinese OTC market is going gangbusters
Excedrin relaunch features Sparks, "Thank yous" from migraine sufferers
November 21, 2012Novartis is hyping its relaunch of Excedrin with a celebrity spokesperson, a migraine app and a survey of women migraine sufferers - along with print and out-of-home ads, radio promotions, direct mail and social media.
Study: OTC ads are so over risk info
September 12, 2012A study of advertising for OTC switches found that presentation of risk information plummeted once the products advertised escaped the purview of the FDA.
Company news: GSK, Novartis and Boehringer Ingelheim
April 24, 2012GlaxoSmithKline continues to shed businesses, but can't shake its weight-loss drug Alli (orlistat).
People news: Novartis, Qforma and Precision Health Media
March 01, 2012Novartis named Brian McNamara as division head of OTC, replacing J&J veteran Naomi Kelman, who spent a year in the role.
As GSK jettisons consumer brands, smaller marketer sees boon
December 28, 2011GlaxoSmithKline divested North American OTC drugs worth about $200 million in sales, a portfolio that seemed like a good strategic fit for buyer Prestige Brands Holdings.
Bon Jovi enlists in Advil's battle with Tylenol
December 21, 2011Jon Bon Jovi is the latest celebrity pitchman for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare's Advil.
