If you have spent years searching for the trusted Pfeiffer name, you likely know them for their reliable, targeted remedies. Today, while the pharmaceutical landscape has changed, the legacy of these formulas continues. Specifically, if you are looking for Dri-Ear, know that Pfeiffer’s pharmaceutical segment was integrated into S.S.S. Company to ensure this specialized formula remained available to the public.
Quick Guide: Active Products from the Pfeiffer Line
Only one original Pfeiffer product remains in the S.S.S. Company lineup:
- Dri-Ear: Once the flagship ear-care product for Pfeiffer, Dri-Ear is now owned and distributed by S.S.S. Company. While the packaging has been updated with S.S.S. Company’s UPC and NDC information, we have intentionally retained the Pfeiffer logo on the box (for now). This serves as a visual bridge for our long-term customers and honors the legacy of the family-run business that originated the brand.
Product Spotlight: What is Dri-Ear?
Dri-Ear is a specialized ear-drying aid formulated to help evaporate excess water trapped in the ear canal after swimming, showering, or water sports. By safely and effectively drying the ear, it helps prevent the discomfort and clogged feeling associated with trapped moisture.
Looking for the original formula?
The History of the Acquisition: A Search for Growth
The S.S.S. Company became involved with Pfeiffer when Mr. Bentley contacted them about contract packaging. Pfeiffer indicated that it was interested in selling its pharmaceutical business, which led to its acquisition by S.S.S. Company.
Pfeiffer’s response was unexpected:
“We are looking to sell our pharmaceutical business.”
At the time, the Pfeiffer leadership was looking to focus on other areas. Mr. Bentley saw this as an opportunity to expand the S.S.S. Company. Following the acquisition, the pharmaceutical segment was eventually rebranded as Pfeiffer Pharmaceuticals under the S.S.S. umbrella.
While there was an internal suggestion to rename the entity “SSS-Pfeiffer Pharmaceuticals,” the Board voted against the change, preferring to keep the identities distinct. That decision lasted until modern regulatory costs necessitated a full and final merger.
Regulation and the Monograph Shift
Soon after the purchase, the FDA updated drug monographs to change the rules for over-the-counter drug ingredients and claims.
Many original Pfeiffer products used legacy formulas that no longer met the new FDA rules. The tough new requirements are likely a big reason why Pfeiffer decided to leave the pharmaceutical business. The cost to update and test these products was prohibitive; therefore, S.S.S. Company stopped making all of them except for Dri-Ear.
Why the Pfeiffer Name Retired: The Impact of OMUFA
The final step in consolidating the brands was the CARES Act of 2020, which established the FDA’s Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Program (OMUFA).
Under OMUFA, the FDA charges a facility fee to every location that produces even a single unit of a monograph drug. In 2020, S.S.S. and Pfeiffer were operating as separate legal entities, meaning the company was hit with two separate fees totaling nearly $38,000.
To put this in perspective, Dri-Ear was generating approximately $9,000 in annual sales at the time. The regulatory fees alone were more than twice this one product's total revenue. By fully integrating the Pfeiffer brand into S.S.S. Company, we eliminated the second facility fee. This administrative move was the only way to keep Dri-Ear affordable and accessible on retail shelves.
Preserving a Century of Trust
Even though Pfeiffer Pharmaceuticals no longer exists, the spirit of the brand continues. Most people know the product as Dri-Ear and may not connect it to Pfeiffer, but for those who do, we are still dedicated to that history.
At S.S.S. Company, we are proud to care for this formula. By bringing it under our name, we ensure Dri-Ear meets today’s safety and regulatory standards while maintaining the quality customers have trusted for years.
Some Pfeiffer's Previous Products
- Kolephrin Caplets (24's or 36's)
- Baridium Tablets 97.2 mg (32's)
- Calamycin Lotion (4 oz)
- Sinapils Tablets (36's)
- DermaMycin Spray (2 oz)
- Therapeutic Blue Ice (8 oz)
- Pfeiffer's Cold Sore Lotion (1/2 oz)
- AllerMax Liquid (4oz)
- Optigene/3 Eye Drops (1/2 oz)
- Duramist Plus Nasal Spray (1/2 oz)
- Rid-a-Pain Dental Drops (1 oz)
- Tricodene Sugar Free Syrup (4 oz)
- Kaodene NN Suspension (4 oz)
- Adult's Acetaminophen Suppositories
- Koldets Cough Drops (30's)
- Tisit Spray (5 oz)
- Babee Cof Syrup (4oz)
- CardiCare Enteric Coated Aspirin
- Flu-Relief Caplets (36's)
- Tycolene PM Caplets (50's)
- Twilite Caplets (20's)
- Blackberry, Root, Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove, Anise, Compound
- Courac Pills
Clarifying Our Heritage Brands
S.S.S. Company has several brands. To help you see where each one comes from, here are the differences between our legacy, acquired, and original products:
- Mother’s Friend was not part of the Pfeiffer acquisition. It originated in the late 19th century with the Bradfield Regulator Company in Atlanta.
- Curasore is a distinct S.S.S. Company brand launched in 1995, developed for topical pain relief for cold sores and fever blisters, with its own history apart from Pfeiffer.
- S.S.S. Liquid Tonic is our founding brand and is not part of Pfeiffer's legacy. Read our product history article to learn more about S.S.S. Tonic’s nearly 200-year existence.
A Note on the Name
S.S.S. Company and Pfeiffer Chemical are not affiliated with Pfizer, Inc. The similar-sounding names have caused some confusion, but these are entirely separate companies. Pfeiffer was an independent pharmaceutical company based in St. Louis. S.S.S. Company has been headquartered in Atlanta since 1867 and operates independently to this day.