ENews: Novartis Pharma To Launch Nicotine Patches In Japan ($$)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Novartis Pharma To Launch Nicotine Patches In Japan ($$)

Date: Tuesday, 5/11/99
        
Nikkei English News via NewsEdge Corporation : TOKYO (Nikkei)--Novartis Pharma 
KK, the Japanese affiliate of the Swiss  pharmaceutical maker, will begin 
selling nicotine patches on Wednesday.

Designed to help smokers kick the habit, the patches deliver nicotine  through 
the skin to stem cravings.  The Swiss firm currently sells the  patches in 62 
countries, racking up worldwide sales of about 10 billion yen a  year.

Although the patches are available over-the-counter in 29 countries,  they will
require a doctor's prescription in Japan and will not be covered by  insurance.
 Nevertheless, the company forecasts that Japanese sales will  total 500 
million yen or more in the first year, eventually reaching as much  as 1 
billion yen a year.

(The Nikkei Industrial Daily Tuesday edition)