Biotech
Friday, October 20th, 2023 2:03 pm EDT
Key Points
- CVS is discontinuing the sale of certain common cough and cold medicines that contain phenylephrine as the sole active ingredient. This decision comes after a panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) unanimously found that phenylephrine, a nasal decongestant in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, is ineffective when taken orally.
- While the FDA has not yet mandated the removal of products containing oral phenylephrine, CVS has voluntarily chosen to remove certain cough and cold medicines from its stores to comply with the findings of the FDA advisors.
- The withdrawal of oral phenylephrine products from the market may impact both CVS and other retail pharmacy chains that rely on the sale of over-the-counter cold and allergy pills for revenue. These products generated $1.8 billion in sales in 2021, and patients seeking congestion relief may need to turn to alternative forms of these medications or consider entirely new options not covered by the FDA advisors’ review.
CVS is discontinuing the sale of certain common cough and cold medicines that contain phenylephrine as the sole active ingredient. This move by CVS follows the unanimous decision by a panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that phenylephrine, a nasal decongestant used in various over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, does not effectively clear congested noses when taken orally. While the FDA has not mandated the removal of these products from the market, CVS is proactively withdrawing them from its shelves. The company intends to comply with the FDA’s directions and regulations, aligning its products with the advisor’s decision. However, CVS will continue to offer other oral cough and cold remedies to meet customer needs.
Phenylephrine is the main active ingredient in products like NyQuil, Benadryl, Sudafed, and Mucinex. Its removal could potentially impact CVS and other retail pharmacy chains, as these stores generate significant revenue from the sale of over-the-counter cold and allergy pills. In 2021, retail stores in the U.S. sold 242 million bottles of drugs containing phenylephrine, generating $1.8 billion in sales. Patients who typically use oral phenylephrine may now need to turn to liquid or spray versions of these medications or consider entirely new alternatives, as the review by the FDA advisors did not cover these options.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/19/cvs-to-pull-certain-cold-medicines-from-store-shelves.html
