Zovirax in third-class-of-drugs
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
APhA maintains in comments to FDA that by making Zovirax "available only through consultation with pharmacists" but without a prescription, many of the public health and safety concerns addressed at FDA's May 19 public hearing on the OTC switch of Burroughs Wellcome's anti-herpes treatment Zovirax (acyclovir) would be resolved ("The Tan Sheet" May 23, p. 1). APhA also suggested that while Zovirax is in the transitional class, Burroughs Wellcome would be able to continue clinical research on the drug. The California Pharmacists Association seconded APhA's recommendation, stating that acyclovir "be made available...only when a pharmacist is available to provide the patient with appropriate counseling"