Television Star Alison Sweeney Joins ZYRTEC(R) to Welcome the Arrival of Spring with the 'Race Against Your Allergies'

FT. WASHINGTON, Pa., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergy sufferer and actress Alison Sweeney today joined the makers of the fastest 24-hour over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine, ZYRTEC®, for an unusual race to officially welcome the first day of spring and new ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels. The "Race Against Your Allergies," which took place in New York City's Madison Square Park, featured some unusual runners – six, five-foot-tall noses representing some of allergy sufferers' worst symptoms, giving them the chance to "outrun" them this season,

Known for her starring roles in TV's The Biggest Loser and Days of Our Lives, Sweeney also suffers from indoor and outdoor allergies. "I love spring, but I know what it's like to live with allergies and that it can be difficult sometimes for me to participate in the activities I love, especially during this time of year," said Sweeney. "I've partnered with the makers of ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels as a fun way to kick off the season and show fellow allergy sufferers and lovers of the outdoors how we can outrun our allergy symptoms this year."

ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels is the latest addition to the ZYRTEC® Brand's growing portfolio of allergy products for adults and children.  Available in the allergy aisle without a prescription, ZYRTEC® is the fastest 24-hour brand name OTC allergy medicine and is now available in a Liquid Gel. ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels help allergy sufferers relieve their allergy symptoms, from itchy, watery eyes to sneezing*, so they can get back to enjoying the things they love.

"We're excited to be providing allergy sufferers with the opportunity to participate in a fun activity to welcome the first day of spring, while learning how to manage and relieve the everyday allergy symptoms the season can bring," said Rohinish Hooda, Vice President of Marketing, Upper Respiratory, McNeil Consumer Healthcare. "With new ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels, people can get relief at liquid speed**."

*Sneezing, running nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose and throat

**Starts working at Hour 1

For additional information on the "Race Against Your Allergies," new ZYRTEC® Liquid Gels and ways to manage allergy symptoms, visit www.raceagainstyourallergies.com.

About Allergies

More than 50 million Americans suffer from indoor and outdoor allergic rhinitis, also known as upper respiratory allergies.  Up to 40 percent of children are affected by allergic rhinitis.  Allergies are caused when a person's immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances.  These substances are often referred to as triggers.  People can encounter indoor and outdoor allergy triggers anytime throughout the year that can lead to allergy symptoms.  For children with allergies, the change of the seasons, sports, and even the school building itself can trigger symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and itchy-watery eyes.

About ZYRTEC®

ZYRTEC® (cetirizine HCl) has a range of products for adults and children that help relieve the allergy symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, and itchy-watery eyes and itchy nose or throat.  These symptoms can be caused by allergy triggers such as dust, mold and pet dander, tree pollen, weeds and grasses.  And for itchy eyes caused by pollen, ragweed, grass, animal hair or dander, ZYRTEC® offers ZYRTEC®  Itchy Eye Drops (ketotifen fumarate).

The makers of ZYRTEC® offer a full line of products for adults, including ZYRTEC® Tablets and new Liquid Gels and ZYRTEC-D®, that provide relief from indoor and outdoor upper respiratory allergy symptoms.  ZYRTEC® also has a variety of products available in different flavors and forms to help relieve children's allergy symptoms.  These products include sugar-free, dye-free Children's ZYRTEC® Allergy Grape Syrup and sugar-free, dye-free Children's ZYRTEC® Allergy Bubble Gum Syrup for ages two years and older, as well as Children's ZYRTEC® Allergy Chewables and Children's ZYRTEC® PERFECT MEASURE® for ages six years and older.  ZYRTEC® also offers ZYRTEC® Itchy Eye Drops for ages three and older which provides targeted allergy itchy eye relief for up to 12 hours.  For more information on the portfolio of ZYRTEC® allergy products for adults and children, please visit www.zyrtec.com.

About McNeil Consumer Healthcare 

McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., markets a broad range of well-known and trusted over-the- counter (OTC) products.  McNeil Consumer Healthcare is most widely recognized for the complete line of TYLENOL® acetaminophen products, the leading pain reliever brand in the adult and pediatric categories.  The TYLENOL® product line consists of hundreds of products across a variety of pain categories including: arthritis pain, pain with accompanying sleeplessness and upper respiratory.  Other McNeil Consumer Healthcare brands include BENADRYL® allergy medicine; IMODIUM® A-D anti-diarrheal; MOTRIN® IB; ROLAIDS® antacid products; ST. JOSEPH® Adult Regimen Aspirin; and SUDAFED® and SUDAFED PE® nasal decongestants.

(This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based on current expectations of future events.  If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL PPC INC and/or Johnson & Johnson's expectations and projections.  Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment.  A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2010.  Copies of this Form 10-K, as well as subsequent filings, are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson.  Neither McNeil Consumer Healthcare, Division of McNEIL PPC INC nor Johnson & Johnson undertake to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.)

SOURCE McNeil Consumer Healthcare