OTC statin favored

The National Consumers League says a majority of U.S. consumers with at-risk cholesterol levels (82 percent) would be more likely to consider taking an OTC statin drug than an Rx product. Participants in an NCL survey say an OTC product is more appealing, largely because of convenience factors. They also consider OTC statins safer, more natural, more suitable for people taking charge of their health and less likely to cause side effects than Rx statins. The survey found consumers are three times more likely to seek additional information about an OTC statin than an Rx product (79 percent versus 21 percent). FDA advisory committees on Dec. 13 recommended against approving Merck's third OTC switch application for lovastatin 20 mg (1"The Tan Sheet" Dec. 17, 2007, p. 3)...