Sanofi will trade Merial animal health for most of Boehringer Ingelheim’s OTC drug and supplement business as both drug makers look to build critical mass in key diversified areas. Consumer healthcare is poised to become Sanofi’s second top-selling franchise after diabetes.

An attachment inhibitor entering Phase III may offer a new option for patients who have outlived the utility of other antiretrovirals. Bristol also is advancing a second-generation maturation inhibitor of HIV into Phase IIb studies, hoping to succeed where other candidates failed to address viral mutation.

Changes for supporting OTC labeling for drugs currently available Rx-only and indicated for chronic, more complicated conditions, aren’t minor and won’t happen within limits of one-dimensional text media printed on OTC drug containers, packages and inserts.