Article: Claritin to Be Sold Over-the-Counter

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Dateline: NEW YORK Schering-Plough Corp. announced plans Friday to switch its blockbuster allergy prescription medicine Claritin to an over-the-counter drug, caving in to regulatory and competitive pressures.

The switch means the company's top selling drug will see its sales shrivel, and marketing Claritin's recently introduced successor will be more challenging. Schering-Plough's stock fell more than 5 percent on the news.

Last year, Claritin had worldwide sales of $3.1 billion but analysts said that could sink to $400 million next year if the switch is approved as expected. Over-the-counter drugs can cost as much as 50 percent less than prescription medicines.

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