Leiner Health Products, dedicated to private label marketing and manufacturing, has secured the marketing rights to the antihistamine Loratadine Immediate Release 10 milligram Tablets (Claritin 10 milligram tablets). Through an exclusive licensing agreement with Genpharm Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, and Pharmaceutical Resources, Spring Valley, New York, Leiner expects to be shipping product to the nation's leading retailers on or around July 21, 2003, after the "first-to-file" company's exclusivity period is exhausted.

The recent Claritin switch from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC) was the biggest in history converting more than $2 billion in prescription sales to OTC. The 10 milligram tablets, which represents more than 65 per cent of Claritin OTC brand sales, is expected to generate a combined $500 million in branded and private label retail sales. Anticipating the large demand for private label programs, Leiner has begun coordinating retailer store brand artwork, inventory and promotional programs.

"We are pleased to be the first private label specialist that will have a secure and reliable supply chain for OTC Loratadine 10 milligram strength tablets," said Gale Bensussen, president of Leiner Health Products. "We are prepared to offer a competitively priced national brand equivalent to Claritin 10 milligram tablets for our customers along with a full range of product marketing support programs."

"We selected Leiner as our exclusive partner because of their proven track record with marketing Rx-to-OTC products in the U.S.," said Ian Hilley, Genpharm vice president. "In addition, we believe Leiner's reputation for delivering competitive pricing, quality products and exceptional service makes them the perfect marketing partner."