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Article: Analysis: Consumers caught in drug fight.
- Article from:
- United Press International
- Article date:
- June 25, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 United Press International. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Jun 25, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX)
A request to switch two prescription allergy drugs to over-the-counter status pits the pharmaceutical industry against and health insurers with consumers stuck in the middle.
The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing a citizen's petition from WellPoint Health Networks, Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif. The company wants Allegra and Zyrtec, popular second-generation antihistamines for treatment of allergy symptoms, switched to OTC. FDA said Wednesday it did not know when a decision was coming but some industry watchers expect it in the near future.
Allegra is manufactured by Aventis ...