Jump to full article: Brisbane (QLD) Courier-Mail (au), 2005-09-21
Author: Jeff Sommerfeld, health reporter
Intro: A BATTLE to sell the nicotine patches Nicorettes has broken out between Queensland-based NightOwl Convenience Stores and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, which wants to restrict the sale of its patches to pharmacies.
NightOwl has lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission claiming Pfizer is inappropriately applying pressure on distributors of its products to restrict its availability outside of pharmacies.
Denying the company was engaging in anti-competitive behaviour, a spokesman for Pfizer yesterday confirmed it had made a conscious decision to retail its Nicorette products only through pharmacies.
"All research shows nicotine replacement therapy only works when it is issued in conjunction with counselling," the spokesman said.
"You're not going to get that through a convenience store.
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