PE: What was it like for you to switch from the Rx unit to the OTC unit?

BS: I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's a fast-paced environment that allows for a lot of creativity. If you work in the Rx world, you're lucky if you get one or two new product launches in your professional life. This year alone [in the OTC unit], we'll launch a number of new products and line extensions. So it's an exciting world.

But I learned a lot from the Rx world, like the value of professionals. Data have suggested that when a physician, particularly a pediatrician, suggests an over-the-counter medicine, the follow-through of that suggestion is 90 percent. So having a physician recommend your product is important to us as well.

When you look globally, where you see a lot of the growth, the line between OTC and Rx is blurred in many countries. Pharmacists can give out Rx drugs and they can give out OTC drugs. You can go into a pharmacy in Thailand and get really any medicine from the pharmacist. For that reason, I think the move toward self-medication around the world is also driving a lot of interest and growth in OTC and consumer healthcare. Then again, I think the idea of enduring brands is becoming more appealing. I think people recognize the value of Claritin. And if we do it right, Claritin sales could, over the next 50 to 60 years, reach $100 billion post–patent expiry. That's a pretty nice life cycle management program.

Pharma used to think of life cycle management ending at patent expiry. Now you can think of life cycle management never ending—if you have the right product.