FDA panel snubs 'partial' Rx-to-OTC switch for Merck's Singulair
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The FDA's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) on 2 May advised against permitting Merck to market Singulair (montelukast), a leukotriene receptor antagonist, as an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for US adults 18 or older to treat allergies – raising concerns patients with asthma of all ages, including pediatrics, would be tempted to use the product off-label to self-treat rather than seeking the care of a physician for their condition.