The US Food and Drug Administration has approved mometasone furoate monohydrate, an intranasal corticosteroid nasal spray designed to treat and prevent hay fever and allergy symptoms, for over-the-counter use. Perrigo Company Plc, which owns the brand –Nasonex– said it expects to begin offering the nasal spray (Nasonex 24HR Allergy) as an OTC product later this year. This first prescription-to-OTC switch for Nasonex represents access to self-care products to a large patient population, who need the rescue inhalers/sprays in allergy and respiratory related emergency conditions.