DRUGS GET OVER-THE-COUNTER APPROVAL
By Adnews Staff
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has approved the re-classification of two prescription products to over-the-counter status. They are Pharmacia & Upjohn's Rogaine hair growth product and SmithKline Beecham's Nicorette chewing gum. TV advertising will begin in May for Rogaine. It is being done by Grey Advertising of New York. In Canada, Pharmacia & Upjohn have filed for government approval to make Rogaine a non-prescription product, Canadian medical information manager Larry Hough told Adnews this week. Advertising for Pharmacia and Upjohn in Canada is done by three Toronto agencies: Rubel & Schwab Advertising and Communications, Remtulla & Associates and Healthwise Creative Resources Group. Marion Merrell Dow of Montreal markets Nicorette in Canada in two-milligram and four-milligram versions. Two-milligram Nicorette has been sold over the counter here since January, 1993. The company is not saying whether it will apply for approval to sell the four milligram product over-the-counter. Advertising for Marion Merrell is done by SMW Advertising of Toronto.