Ahold, Scolari's Join NACDS
d USA, Atlanta, and Scolari's Food & Drug, Reno, Nev., have joined the National Association of Chain Drug Stores here, the association announced. Including Ahold and Scolari's, the association said, a total of 36 supermarket chains now belongs to the NACDS, including 22 of the 25 largest chains. This represents a 72% share of all pharmacies in food-drug combination stores. The NACDS membership is rounded out by 90 chain drug stores and nine mass merchants.
OTC Regulation Bill Passed
WASHINGTON -- Both the Senate and House of Representatives have approved legislation requiring one national regulatory system for over-the-counter medicines, part of a larger effort to revamp the Food and Drug Administration. The legislation has been sent to President Clinton, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill would prevent states from modifying OTC requirements set by the FDA, which would have the authority to inspect the facilities of OTC manufacturers as thoroughly as it does those of pharmaceutical companies. The bill would also require OTC manufacturers to put all inactive as well as active ingredients on their labels. States would still be able to bring enforcement actions, issue warnings and petition the FDA to alter its requirements.
The proposed law "protects consumers from being confused by differing state regulations affecting OTC medicines and provides needed certainty and uniform requirements for OTC manufacturers," said James Cope, president of the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association here, which has been a proponent of the bill.
Warning on 'Herbal Fen-Phen'
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The Food and Drug Administration here has sent a warning to consumers that herbal supplements touted as alternatives to fenfluramine and phentermine -- the once-popular, now-banned prescription weight-loss cocktail known as fen-phen -- have not been proven safe or effective and may in fact contain harmful ingredients. In a recent "talk paper," the FDA deemed so-called "herbal fen-phen" products unapproved drugs and said it would take "appropriate regulatory action to remove such products from the market." The FDA noted many of these products contain ephedra, which has been associated with more than 800 reports of adverse events since 1994; 5-hydroxy-tryptophan, which has been linked to several deaths from a rare blood disorder; and St. John's Wort, which has yet to undergo thorough testing.
Salon Selectives Adds Items
CHICAGO -- Salon Selectives, a division of Helene Curtis here, has introduced a new line of shampoos, conditioners, finishing sprays and hair-styling products that is set to reach stores by January. The line features new ingredients and packaging, including a sleeker bottle shape and variations on Salon Selectives' signature pink color. The new bottles also prominently feature the new ingredients and list Salon Selectives' web site, www.yoursalon.com. To promote the new line, the company is staging events at more than 400 shopping malls nationwide, sponsoring the Universal Cheerleading and Dance Association, distributing free samples and starting a toll-free advice line, (888) 8MYCOMBO.
Monticello to Buy SKB Line
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Monticello Cos. here has agreed to acquire Pittsburgh-based SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare's Throat Discs lozenge business. Monticello is a privately held corporation whose over-the-counter brands include DeWitt's Backache Pills, 666 Cold Preparations, Black Draught Laxative and Nullo Internal Deodorant Tablets.
