Announced Actions for July 29, 2003

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Unither Pharma, Inc. and United Therapeutics Corporation. The Commission vote to approve the final consent order was 5-0. (FTC File No. 022-3036; staff contact is Mary Engle, 202-326-3161; see press release dated June 12, 2003.)

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order in the matter concerning Snore Formula, Inc., as well as a letter to the commenter of record. The Commission vote to approve the final consent order and letter was
5-0. (FTC File No. 022-3247; staff contact is Jonathan M. Cowen, 202-326-2533; see press release dated April 15, 2003.)

The FTC has approved the extension of a time period in the matter concerning Baxter International, Inc. Under the order in Docket No. C-3726, which concerned Baxter's acquisition of Immuno International AG, Haemacure Corporation (the acquirer of the Immunex Fibrin Sealant Assets approved by the Commission) was required to obtain all necessary U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals to manufacture fibrin sealant for sale in the United States by July 28, 2000, unless the original time frame was extended by the Commission as provided by the order.

Consistent with the order, the Commission previously extended the time within which Haemacure had to obtain FDA approval until July 28, 2001, July 28, 2002, and again until July 28, 2003. The Commission’s approval in the current matter – which was requested by the trustee overseeing the divestiture process, and which is the last approval permitted under the order – extends by a final 12 months the time that Haemacure has to obtain all necessary FDA approvals to manufacture this product, until July 28, 2004.

The Commission vote to approve the time period extension was 5-0. (FTC Docket No. C-3726; staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, 202-326-2623; see press releases dated December 19, 1996; May 9 and July 18, 2000; April 30 and July 13, 2001; and June 28, 2002.)

The Commission has filed an amicus brief jointly with the U.S. Department of Justice in the case On Review of UPL Advisory Opinion No. 2003-2, Case No. S03U1451 (Ga. S. Ct.). The brief, which is available on the FTC’s Web site as a link to this press release, concerns whether the Georgia Supreme Court should reject an advisory opinion of the State Bar of Georgia Standing Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, which declares that non-lawyers who perform real estate closings are engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. The Commission vote authorizing staff to join in filing the brief was 5-0. (FTC File No. P859907, staff contact is John F. Daly, Office of the General Counsel, 202-326-2244.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.