The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7296 p497
24 April 2004

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Approval for OTC statins

The Journal understands that the Committee for Safety of Medicines has given its final stamp of approval for the switch of simvastatin from prescription-only medicine to pharmacy medicine status. This follows public consultation on the proposal, which ended in January (PJ, 3/10 January, p8).

A formal announcement of the switch was expected to be made by the Department of Health this week but Government priorities appear to have changed.

In line with previous POM to P switches, guidance on the sale of OTC simvastatin for pharmacists and their staff will be produced to coincide with the launch of the product later this year.


Agenda p508
Comment p493