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CHPA/Nielsen study:
OTC heartburn medicines save nearly $800 million annually
CHPA issued
a
press release
January 26 announcing that a new study released by the association and The
Nielsen Company indicates that 94 percent of patients who use
OTC heartburn remedies are satisfied with the products. The research also shows
that OTC heartburn therapies
save patients an average of $174 in office visits and medication costs each
year. Additionally, CHPA and Nielsen attribute $757 million in annual savings to
the U.S. healthcare system based on fewer office visits.
"This is wonderful news for consumers. This study points to
a high level of satisfaction plus cost savings among those who turn to OTC
heartburn medicines for symptom relief," said CHPA's Linda Suydam. "The overall
findings reflect the evolution of heartburn treatments as the availability of
over-the-counter treatment options have expanded over the past 15 years."
Entitled
Benefits of
Over-the-Counter Heartburn Medication to Consumers and the Healthcare System,
the study is based on online and written survey responses from
nearly 10,000 consumers who use such OTC heartburn medications as antacids,
H2-blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. Cost savings were estimated using a
combination of consumer and provider data.
According to one of the
study's authors, Jim Mansfield, The Nielsen Company, ongoing research into health outcomes and the costs of lost
work time and misdiagnosis holds the potential to identify additional
substantial savings.
The report also
focuses on the importance of consumer education, noting that effective treatment
calls for heartburn sufferers who can recognize their symptoms, understand how
options differ, follow medication directions closely, and be prepared to see a
doctor if symptoms become chronic or severe.
"As with any OTC medication, consumers should read the
label and follow directions closely to understand what the medicine is used for,
to ensure appropriate dosing, and to avoid dangerous drug interactions," said
Dr. Janet Engle, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy. "Severe
or ongoing symptoms should be reported to a healthcare provider."
CHPA contact:
Elizabeth Funderburk | Back to the top
Federal
Register Update
OMB to recommend new
executive order on federal regulatory review
The February 3 Federal Register included a January 30
presidential
memorandum that instructs the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide
recommendations for a new executive order on federal regulatory review within
100 days.
Among other things,
the memorandum states that the recommendations should:
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Include
suggestions concerning the relationship between the Office of Information
and Regulatory Affairs and the agencies;
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Provide guidance
on disclosure and transparency;
-
Encourage public
participation in agency regulatory processes;
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Include
suggestions on the role of cost-benefit analysis;
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Address the role
of distributional considerations, fairness, and concern for the interests of
future generations;
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Identify methods
of ensuring that regulatory review does not produce undue delay;
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Clarify the role
of the behavioral sciences in formulating regulatory policy; and
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Identify the best
tools for achieving public goals through the regulatory process.
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EPA gives more time
to comment on proposal that adds pharmaceuticals to federal waste program
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
notice in the
January 30 Federal Register announcing the agency has extended the comment
period until March 4 on its proposed rule entitled "Amendment to the Universal Waste
Rule: Addition of Pharmaceuticals." Published on December 2, 2008, the proposed
rule seeks to add hazardous pharmaceutical wastes to the federal universal waste
program. EPA states that it is extending the comment period 30 days in
response to several requests.
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Meetings
CHPA's flagship
meeting kicks off next month
Members are
reminded to register soon for the AEC
CHPA's flagship event, the Annual Executive Conference (AEC), is now just weeks
away. Scheduled for March 12-14 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples,
Florida, this year's conference will examine the consumer mindset from a number
of different angles.
The capstone session
for the AEC, sponsored by The Nielsen Company, focuses on navigating to success. Fast Company
Founding
Editor Bill Taylor will discuss new solutions in competitive strategy and
promoting innovation, while former White House Communications Director Dan
Bartlett will
address different types of winning communication strategies.
Taylor is an
accomplished writer, speaker, and entrepreneur who has helped shape
global conversations on the best ways to compete, innovate, and succeed. His
book, Mavericks at Work, was on a host of best-seller and top-ten lists after
its publication in 2006.
Saturday Morning General Session
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Bill Taylor |
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Dan Bartlett |
Brought to you by The Nielsen Company
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Bartlett is currently a senior strategist with Public Strategies, Inc., where he
acts as an advisor to business leaders representing key sectors of the American
and global economy. He also is a faculty member at the University of Texas
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. In his roles as counselor to
former President George W. Bush and White House communications director, Bartlett was responsible
for overseeing the
offices of communications, media affairs, speechwriting, and the press office.
Hotel room block to be released February 9
Members who have not yet booked a room at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort are
reminded that CHPA's room block will be released Monday, February 9. After that date,
the special group rate and room availability are no longer guaranteed. Please
note that CHPA's group rate only covers reservations made from March 10-15. Hotel reservations may
be made
online (see page six of the
AEC program for the corresponding hotel
codes) or by calling the hotel at 239.593.2000.
Sponsor support
CHPA is grateful to all of our 2009 AEC sponsors.
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2009 AEC Sponsors
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CHPA contacts:
Kass Kassouf and
Maria Sarabia | Back to the top
CHPA News
Actress Chandra
Wilson promotes safe use and safe keeping of children's cough and cold medicines
Actress Chandra Wilson,
a mother of three, gave nearly 30
television, radio, and Internet interviews January 23 to tell parents about the
CHPA Educational Foundation’s Treat with Care campaign promoting safe
and appropriate use of OTC cough and cold medicines for children.
The interviews were
part of a satellite media tour organized by CHPA. During her comments, Wilson
discussed her involvement with the Treat with Care campaign, an effort of the
CHPA Educational Foundation to help parents ___ how to safely use and store
kids' OTC oral cough and cold medicines in addition to promoting the
resources available to parents at
OTCsafety.org. Wilson has been part of the campaign since its launch and is
featured on the foundation's
public service announcements.
Among Wilson's tips
for parents are to:
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Always read and
follow the directions on the label.
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Never give
children more than the recommended dose, and always use the measuring device
that comes with the medicine.
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Always safely
store medications out of the reach and out of sight of children.
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Not use OTC
medicines to make a child sleepy.
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Follow new
recommendations to not give oral OTC cough and cold medicine to children
under age four.
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Bring any
questions to a doctor or other healthcare professional.
While some of the
interviews were taped and have not yet aired, the media tour already has earned
an audience of over 2.3 million consumers.
CHPA contacts:
Elizabeth Funderburk and
Mimi Pappas | Back to the top
CHPA gives the
industry's take on dietary supplement AERs at FDLI conference
CHPA’s David
Spangler took part in a Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) conference January
30, where he provided an industry perspective on dietary supplement adverse
event reports (AERs). Spangler pointed to CHPA’s strong support for the law
which bolsters consumer confidence by requiring reporting of serious adverse
events for
dietary supplements and non-new drug application (NDA) OTC medicines. He also noted the breadth of
internal company uses of a contact management system that go beyond the receipt of
adverse events, such as receiving and analyzing consumer questions, suggestions,
requests, and complaints. Finally, Spangler reiterated the association’s view
that prefatory language before a company’s contact information was not wise or
needed, given the number of differing reasons consumers may wish to contact a
company.
FDA’s Vasilios H.
Frankos, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, served on the same panel as Spangler. During his comments, Frankos provided specifics on the law’s requirements and described some of the
most frequently asked questions the agency has received on implementation of the
law. Frankos also outlined the types of reports FDA has received since the law
took effect January 1, 2006, and their usefulness in helping FDA detect signals
for further review.
CHPA contact:
David Spangler | Back to the top
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