HEALTH

Ciba Acquiring Maalox, 2 Other Products: The Swiss pharmaceutical giant said it is buying the antacid and other U.S. and Canadian over-the-counter drugs from France’s Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. for $407 million. The deal also gives Ciba-Geigy two other key products, Perdiem, a laxative, and Ascriptin, a coated aspirin. It will also acquire a production plant in Ft. Washington, Pa. Ciba-Geigy said the expansion puts it among the top 10 companies in the U.S. over-the-counter market and will add $160 million to its over-the-counter sales in 1995.