21.   Prescription allergy drugs would become available over the counter under an unprecedented plan being presented today to federal regulators by WellPoint Health Networks Inc.

22.   Sepracor developed derivatives of two allergy drugs, Seldane and Claritin, which are now sold as Allegra by Aventis and as Clarinex by Schering-Plough.

23.   Sepracor of Marlborough, Mass. had its allergy drug, Soltara, rejected by the FDA in March.

24.   Seldane, an allergy drug, and Propulsid, a drug for gastrointestinal complaints, were taken off the market because of adverse side effects like heart arrhythmia.

25.   The allergy drug Seldane was also taken off the market because its interactions with other drugs caused serious heart problems.

26.   The approach worked in the case of Allegra, the allergy drug sold by Aventis.

27.   The company is also planning to soon release a new allergy drug that it expects to have fewer side effects than Claritin.

28.   The company is also awaiting regulatory approval for Soltara, a promising allergy drug that it developed and plans to market on its own.

29.   The company said it won U.S. approval to sell a new combination allergy drug, Allegra-D.

30.   The company has already begun a high-profile advertising drive for an alternative allergy drug, Clarinex.