A new citizen's petition asks FDA to switch two antihistamines, Sanofi-Aventis' Allegra and Pfizer's Zyrtec, to OTC status. The petition, filed March 12 by attorney Joel Stocker of Greenberg Traurig, makes the case that the "positive OTC experience" of Schering-Plough's Claritin "has made the case to switch [Allegra and Zyrtec] even more compelling." Schering initially fought a Wellpoint petition to force an OTC switch of Claritin (along with Allegra and Zyrtec), but later filed a sNDA to switch Claritin (1"The Pink Sheet" Dec. 2, 2002, p. 7). FDA previously declined to act on the petitions for Allegra and Zyrtec...

A new citizen's petition asks FDA to switch two antihistamines, Sanofi-Aventis' Allegra and Pfizer's Zyrtec, to OTC status. The petition, filed March 12 by attorney Joel Stocker of Greenberg Traurig, makes the case that the "positive OTC experience" of Schering-Plough's Claritin "has made the case to switch [Allegra and Zyrtec] even more compelling." Schering initially fought a Wellpoint petition to force an OTC switch of Claritin (along with Allegra and Zyrtec), but later filed a sNDA to switch Claritin (1"The Pink Sheet" Dec. 2, 2002, p. 7). FDA previously declined to act on the petitions for Allegra and Zyrtec...

Pfizer will use the cash gained through the sale of its consumer unit to Johnson & Johnson to make targeted specialty pharma and biotech acquisitions, the firm said following announcement of the deal June 26