Allergy pills a step closer to purchase over counter

New York Times May 12, 2001

A proposal to make the three most popular and expensive allergy drugs available without a prescription won strong support Friday from a government medical advisory panel.

The panel voted overwhelmingly to advise the Food and Drug Administration that Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec are just as safe as many non-prescription allergy medications that have long been sold in drugstores and supermarkets.

The decision was a setback for the makers of the drugs, which advertise heavily and sell millions of pills for a total of $5 billion a year. It was a victory for the health insurance industry, which passes on a large portion of the cost to consumers and employers in insurance premiums and out-of-pocket payments.

Industry executives said they will pursue the fight over allergy products.

"We are disappointed, but we are sure this is not a done deal," said Dr. Francois Nader of Aventis SA, which makes Allegra. "The next step is for the FDA to look at all the reservations and comments presented."

Dr. Robert Seidman of Wellpoint Health Networks, which brought the issue to the FDA, said the recommendations are "historymaking."

-- Anonymous, May 12, 2001