Pharmaceutical Business review

GSK drops smoking case as Nicodrops changes promotional indications

The lawsuit had been filed in a US federal district court on February 8, 2005, alleging false advertising and unfair competition claims relating to the Nicodrops product. The lawsuit was settled to the mutual satisfaction of the parties with no admission of liability, GSK reported in a release.

Meanwhile, Nicodrops’ packaging, Website, and other promotional materials have now been revised. The new materials indicate that Nicodrops is a dietary herbal supplement that can be used as a smoking alternative, but do not refer to it as a stop smoking aid that reduces nicotine cravings. Additionally, materials on the company’s Website that compared Nicodrops’ cost and effectiveness to GSK Consumer Healthcare’s products have been removed.

GSK’s anti-smoking product portfolio includes: NicoDerm CQ patch, Nicorette gum, and the Commit lozenge. All are FDA-approved stop smoking therapies available without a prescription.