Pharmaceutical firms get cold feet about potential OTC switches when they consider the costs for studies to update safety data for an ingredient, suggests Laura Mahecha, a health care market consultant for research firm Kline & Co.
OTC Switch Interest Cooled By Study Costs To Update Safety Data
Firms often are hesitant to prepare Rx-to-OTC switch applications because safety and efficacy data for their products are over a decade old, notes health care consultant Laura Mahecha.
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Final rule’s requirement that ACNU formulations also remain available as Rx generics could limit revenues for marketers of the nonprescription drugs while approvals of ACNU applications from studies with participants having drugs delivered to their homes may require marketers to limit distribution to direct-to-consumer without clearance for sales in retail stores.
Study completed in 2024 showed consumers using an online application accurately self-selected and safely used an Rx statin drug. An “ACNU” switch NDA would have to first show conventional OTC labeling won’t support proper self-selection and use.
Agency’s proposal for targeting making more formulations available nonprescription through “novel switches” went through changes on its path from idea in 2012 to proposed rule in 2022 and final rule published in December.
FDA’s ‘ACNU’ rule went through numerous twists and turns from agency’s “new paradigm” idea of OTC switches in 2012 to publication.
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Agency’s proposal for targeting making more formulations available nonprescription through “novel switches” went through changes on its path from idea in 2012 to proposed rule in 2022 and final rule published in December.
FDA’s ‘ACNU’ rule went through numerous twists and turns from agency’s “new paradigm” idea of OTC switches in 2012 to publication.