PULVOIDS CALCYLATES
Report of the Council on Pharmacy and Chemistry
Pulvoids Calcylates 5 grains was submitted by the Drug Products Company, Inc., New York, under the following claims as to composition:
“When ingested represents the following chemical formulas: C6H4
| OH COO |
“Strontium Di-Salicylate 21⁄2 grs. and our especially prepared Salt of Calcium and Acid Salicylic adjusted in such nascent form, that these pulvoids upon ingestion will promptly form Calcium Neutral Di-Salicylate 21⁄2 gr.”
“A combination of Calcium and Strontium Di-Salicylate, in seemingly true chemical union.”
These statements are rather vague, possibly because they are an attempt to mystify. The product, however, may be assumed to be a mixture (not a chemical combination) of calcium salicylate and strontium salicylate. The therapeutic claims made for the preparation are:
“Superior to ordinary salicylates. Can be taken continuously and indefinitely without gastric irritation, insuring maximum efficiency.”
“Reports show surprisingly good results, even where the sodium salt fails.”
As there is no evidence to show that strontium salicylate, calcium salicylate or a mixture of the two salts has any advantage over sodium salicylate, these claims cannot be accepted. The name and the statement of composition are objectionable in that they do not reveal the identity of the drugs in “Calcylates” and in suggesting that this preparation possesses radical advantages over salicylates in other forms.
The Drug Products Company was told that the facts just mentioned rendered “Pulvoids Calcylates” ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies. The company in its reply objected to the Council’s conclusions, and in support of its position submitted testimonials from a number of physicians. The reply of the company embodied no facts or arguments which had not been considered by the Council’s referee, and the testimonials from physicians contained no evidence to show that the combination has any real advantage over sodium salicylate.
The Council therefore declared “Pulvoids Calcylates” ineligible for New and Nonofficial Remedies for the following reasons: Unwarranted therapeutic claims are made for the mixture (Rule 6); the name does not describe the composition (Rule 8), and the mixture is an unessential modification of an established remedy (sodium salicylate) (Rule 10).—(From The Journal A. M. A., Sept. 9, 1916.)