STERLING SENIOR VP TROUT INTERVIEW'S FOR HHS SECTY. POSITION

STERLING SENIOR VP TROUT INTERVIEW'S FOR HHS SECTY. POSITION during week of Oct. 28-Nov. 1. Monroe Trout, who is a senior vice president for medical and scientific affairs at Sterling, is at least the second health industry insider to reach the interview stage in the HHS Secty. selection process. American Hospital Supply Chairman Karl Bays was interviewed earlier but his candidacy has been withdrawn ("The Pink Sheet" Oct. 28, T&G-1). SK&F Labs U.S. President James Cavanaugh has been mentioned frequently as a possible choice because of his previous experience in health policy on the Ford Administration White House staff and because of his close ties to the Reagan Administration during the initial transition personnel search in 1981. While reportedly endorsed by the Heritage Foundation, Trout's candidacy could be hurt by the current Reye's Syndrome labeling issue. Sterling has been active in fighting the mandatory labeling proposal by House Health Subcmte. Chairman Waxman. Becuase of his affiliation with Sterling, Trout might inherit an awkward relationship with the powerful House health leader in the HHS role. From the drug industry perspective, an outside candidate for the HHS top position might be more favorable in the long run. Indiana ex-Gov. Otis Bowen, MD, remains one of the prime candidates to replace outgoing Secty. Heckler. A back-up candidate with experience in Washington is Defense Dept. Asst. Secty. for Health Affairs William Mayer, MD. Bowen's candidacy has received the vigorous support of the Indiana delegation to Washington, particularly Sen. Quayle (R-Ind.). A spokesman for Quayle's office said: "We continue to believe he's a prime candidate" for the position.