The Makers of Doan's(R) Respond to the FTC's Ruling on Its Advertising

    SUMMIT, N.J., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The makers of Doan's have issued
 the following statement:
 
     The makers of Doan's backache medication strongly disagree with the ruling
 by the administrative law judge of the Federal Trade Commission.
     Doan's has been an effective backache remedy for over 50 years.  In fact,
 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's rules state that the active ingredient
 in Doan's is effective for backache relief and permits Doan's labeling to make
 that claim.
     Based on these FDA rules, Doan's advertising has stated that it is
 effective for relieving backache pain and that it contains an active
 ingredient, magnesium salicylate, that other leading analgesics do not.  These
 two statements are true and unchallenged by the FTC.
     The U.S. FDA would not allow us to claim that Doan's relieves backache
 pain if it did not work.  Millions of consumers would not continue to buy the
 product if it did not relieve their backache pain.
     Contrary to the FTC's interpretation, Doan's advertising has never stated
 that it is more effective than other leading analgesic pain relievers.
     To date, millions of consumers have chosen Doan's because it works.  Their
 continued support speaks volumes regarding its effectiveness.  Doan's is
 available in three formulas:  regular strength, extra strength and extra
 strength nighttime caplets.
 
 

SOURCE  Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.