Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7479

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Xenical could lose OTC status in Feb
Pharma in Focus 2007 Jan 15
http://www.pharmainfocus.com.au/news.asp?newsid=1470

Abstract:

Roche faces a battle with consumer organisations and doctors at the
February National Drugs and Poisons Committee (NDPSC) meeting to
preserve the OTC status of it obesity drug Xenical (orlistat).

The committee will consider returning Xenical to prescription-only
status or rescinding permission for the product to be advertised to
consumers if it remains in Schedule 3.

The reconsideration of Xenical’s scheduling follows an outcry over
advertising late last year in which the Australian Consumers Association
(ACA) complained Roche had breached advertising standards by
broadcasting Xenical commercials during episodes of Australian Idol.

The Complaints Resolution Panel directed Roche to change its commercials
so they did not encourage inappropriate use of the drug and to clarify
the indications.

It did not uphold the ACA’s contention that Xenical had been advertised
to minors via the Australian Idol broadcasts.

The NDPSC decided to diarise next month’s re-examination of the
advertising permission for Xenical at its October 2006 meeting, citing
public and media concern. The decision to reconsider its OTC status was
taken by committee chair Dr Rohan Hammett after the meeting and only
revealed when the Record of Reasons was published in December.

ACA health policy officer Viola Korczac said her organisation would be
making a submission to the February meeting but it was yet to be
finalised. She said it would address both advertising and re-scheduling
of Xenical, issues already raised in correspondence with the committee.

Dr John Gullotta, chair of the AMA Therapeutics Committee, said the
doctors’ organisation had been against down-scheduling and advertising
from the start and had written to Dr Hammett expressing its opposition.

Submissions for the February NDPSC meeting close on January 24.

[Comment: this also raises the issue of numerous complementary medicines
of dubious efficacy currently heavily promoted for weight loss]