Aetna's aggressive formulary management steps following OTC switch of Schering-Plough's Claritin have led to 80% decrease in members' use of Rx low- and non-sedating antihistamines, insurer says. After Claritin switched OTC, Aetna moved Schering's Clarinex, Aventis' Allegra, Pfizer's Zyrtec to "non-formulary" status, meaning members of open formulary plan can receive an Rx at the highest tier copay of $30-$35, resulting in no economic incentive for patients to choose Rx products. Aetna also partnered with Wyeth to include Alavert samples in mailings to physicians and members who received an Rx NSA in 2002 (1"The Tan Sheet" Feb. 10, 2002, In Brief). Managed care firm says it is developing a formulary strategy for PPIs following switch of Prilosec (2"The Tan Sheet" June 23, 2003, p. 3)...

WellPoint Health Networks this month will mail three $10-off coupons for Wyeth's orally disintegrating loratadine to 438,000 members who received a prescription for a second-generation antihistamine within the past six months. Program marks WellPoint's first broad-scale couponing effort, although firm notes it has "dabbled" with coupons for OTC H2 antagonists in the past. WellPoint, which petitioned FDA to switch second-generation antihistamines OTC, says it approached Schering, Wyeth, McNeil about a cooperative marketing program for OTC loratadine and will split the couponing campaign's costs with Wyeth. In approving Alavert Dec. 23, FDA directed Wyeth to submit introductory promotional materials (1"The Tan Sheet" Dec. 23, 2002, p. 5). FDA says it also asked Schering to submit promotional materials for OTC Claritin; however, the request was made more informally and was not stated in the approval letters...

An interactive look at recent executive-level company changes and promotions in the biopharma, medical device and diagnostics industries.