Medicines Control Agency, Medical Devices Agency will merge into single, as-yet-unnamed entity next April due to increasing convergence in drug, medical device fields, Department of Health announces June 13. Systems and processes by which drugs are licensed, medical devices are controlled will not be affected, but merger will include creation of chairman post to serve as agency's authoritative figurehead and oversee strategic management. Agency also will have a chief executive; current MCA Chief Exec Keith Jones, MD, is leaving his post in October...

Perrigo is latest consumer health firm to note substantially slower flu rates slammed OTC drug sales during 2020 fourth quarter. Its total cough/cold product sales for the year were off $63m on decreases of $34m in the Americas and $29m in its international markets.

In deal with Altaris Capital, “I don't feel like we got out at any cost,” says Perrigo CEO Murray Kessler. Agreement calls for “a number of mutual long-term relationship components ... including on Rx-to-OTC switches."