HEALTH
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Drug Company to Offer Tagamet Rebate: SmithKline Beecham said it will offer cash to Americans who buy the ulcer treatment, one of the world’s biggest-selling drugs. The decision to place counter displays in 50,000 pharmacies takes name-brand drug price competition into drugstores for the first time, and analysts called the move a “revolutionary” step. Drug makers are scrambling to compete amid growing pressure to cut prices. SmithKline says its rebates will make Tagamet $20 less a month than Zantac, an even bigger-selling ulcer treatment made by Glaxo.
