Latebreakers: If Mevacor goes OTC, Glaxo will push it

In anticipation of FDA approval, GlaxoSmithKline and Merck have entered into an agreement for OTC marketing rights for lova statin (Mevacor). Under the agreement, Glaxo will have exclusive rights to market nonprescription lovastatin in the United States. Mevacor was introduced in this country in 1987 by Merck as the first in a class of cholesterol-lowering medicines known as statins. The application for OTC lovastatin is scheduled to be reviewed by the FDA on Dec. 13. The application seeks approval of OTC lovastatin 20 mg taken once daily to help lower cholesterol. This is Merck's third application to take lovastatin OTC.