The FDA pushed Novartis to reign in its self-imposed "dilution" of the Maalox trademark with an assortment of active ingredients under the Maalox brand [http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm200795.htm].  The elasticity of OTC megabrands has been stretched to the point of confusing consumers and even OTC Product News.  Is a Kleenex a tissue?   Is Maalox an antacid?

Glaxo pulled its Super Poligrip Denture Cream containing zinc salts from the market yesterday.  Poligrip is subject to a product liability action in Federal District court against the makers of Super Poligrip [Glaxo] and Fixodent [P&G] alleging zinc caused serious neurodegeneration in some heavy users.  In September 2009 OTC/PN was the first to point out that the design of denture adhesion systems is a virtual transmucosal drug delivery system [Zinc In Denture Cremes; Another P&G Product T...].  We offer suggestions on how private enterprise can minimize product liability exposure without government intervention.

"When I disagree with a rational man, I let reality be our final arbiter; if I am right he will learn; if I am wrong, I will; one of us will win, but both will profit"

 -John Galt in Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand, 1957.

Coincident to our our latest story on the role of expert opinion [When Do Consumers Seek Expert Opinion To Make...] Richard Edelman, son of the legendary founder of PR firm Edelman in New York's Times Square, issued his 10th annual survey of global trust.  His survey provides some data to further elaborate on the role of individual opinion in the world of consumer healthcare marketing.

 

" 'I know something interesting is sure to happen', Alice said to herself, 'whenever I eat or drink anything:  so I'll just see what this bottle does' "

- Alice in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll, 1865

 

It's axiomatic that consumers are made aware of products through crowd-sourcing (girl friends), promotions, advertising, or simply walking the aisle.  But what prompts consumers to seek expert opinion in making a purchase and why?

Hisamitsu Pharma filed a citizens petition at FDA on 31 December 2009 [received 1/6/10] to remind the FDA to protect its investment in the first and only FDA-approved topical pain relieving patch, Salonpas.  Over the last year Hisamitsu, the maker of Salonpas topical pain patches, has quietly charted the direction of pain relieving topical patches in the United States while others have been less than proactive.

 Find out how & why ...

Many of America's best known consumer healthcare brands were caught up in a "voluntary" recall of contaminated products J&J announced late Friday January 15th.   The FDA issued a formal warning to J&J after an audit of its Puerto Rican plant.  While J&J failed to react and withheld information from FDA for well over a year millions of consumers were exposed to a little-known chemical contaminant.   Worse in a guarded, carefully worded press release Friday J&J chose not to identify the brand names affected either in the text or the title of its press release instead resorting to a lengthy separate pdf attachment.  That fourteen page attachment testifies to the extent and complexity of the recall as does a new website dedicated to the recall.  In fact, consumers must work through the fine print to get the information they need.  As it turns out 53 million bottles of pills are being recalled across iconic brands such as Tylenol, Rolaids, Benedryl and Motrin, or one bottle for every five adult consumers in the U.S.  Over the last two years J&J, P&G and Chattem (Sanofi) have received warning letters concerning serious quality failures causing injury to consumers buying OTC branded products.  If iconic brand names no longer provide an assurance of safety why take a chance with Tylenol, or any OTC brand, with cheaper store brands widely available?