GSK on Xenical
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare says it plans to apply for an Rx-to-OTC switch for obesity drug Xenical within the existing two-class system. There may be future switches where "special conditions of sale or sponsor obligations" could remedy concerns about broader OTC availability, GSK acknowledges, but the firm maintains it "has no reason to believe" at this time that Xenical would fall into such a category. GSK Consumer Healthcare Director of Corporate Development Roland Regnier recently reported that GSK is "internally studying" the economics of a "third class" of drugs, but said the firm has not taken a formal position (1"The Tan Sheet" Sept. 20, 2004, p. 24)...