Alcon launches Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength
Following a successful Rx-to-OTC switch last year, Alcon is wasting no time expanding its Pataday line of prescription-strength OTC products. The latest addition to the line is Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength, which joins the original-strength Pataday Once Daily Relief and Pataday Twice Daily Relief.
Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength offers 24 hours of eye allergy itch relief with a single dose that the company said begins working in minutes. It helps combat eye itching caused by animal hair, dander, grass, pollen and ragweed for people aged 2 years old and older.
“The introduction of Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength brings a full 24 hours of eye allergy itch relief over the counter for millions of Americans with eye allergies,” said Sergio Duplan, president of Alcon North America. “We’re thrilled to provide access to the strongest concentration of olopatadine, previously the No. 1 doctor-prescribed eye allergy itch relief ingredient, to consumers in time for the spring allergy season.”
Alcon said that since 2008, there have been more than 40 million prescriptions written for the active ingredient in Pataday. The company also noted that the switch to OTC has brought new shoppers into the OTC eye allergy category, citing IRI data that showed 58% of Pataday shoppers were new to the category.
Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength has launched nationwide at select stores and online. Widespread commercial availability kicked off in late February for all major food, drug and mass-market retailers.