CVS has decided to remove certain common cough and cold medicines from its shelves, according to a spokesperson who spoke on Thursday.
This move by the company follows a recent decision by a panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The advisors unanimously concluded that oral phenylephrine, a key ingredient in many popular over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, does not effectively clear congested noses when taken orally.
The FDA has yet to mandate the removal of products containing oral phenylephrine from the market, but CVS is taking proactive steps.
The company is voluntarily discontinuing cough and cold medicines that solely feature phenylephrine as an active ingredient from its stores.
The spokesperson emphasized that CVS will adhere to FDA guidance to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
They reassured that CVS stores will continue to offer alternative oral cough and cold products to meet customer needs.
Among the products affected are those containing Sudafed PE, marketed by Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health division Kenvue, which declined to comment on CVS’s decision.
The Wall Street Journal first reported CVS’s decision on Thursday.
The potential removal of oral phenylephrine from the market could impact CVS and other retail pharmacy chains, as these products contribute significantly to their revenue from over-the-counter cold and allergy medications.
Last year, retail stores in the U.S. sold 242 million bottles of drugs containing phenylephrine, representing a 30% increase from 2021 and generating $1.8 billion in sales, according to FDA data.
If oral phenylephrine is no longer available, patients may need to seek out liquid or spray versions of these medications or look for entirely different treatment options, which were not part of the FDA advisors’ recent review.
