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Pfizer Pulls Misleading Lipitor Ads

Pfizer Pulls Misleading Lipitor Ads

New York TImes   |  Stephanie Saul   |   February 26, 2008 08:14 AM

Read More: Big Pharma, Cholesterol Drugs, Drug Ads, Fake Lipitor Ads, Fake Lipitor Doctor, Lipitor, Lipitor Ads, Pfizer, Pfizer Ads, Pfizer Drugs, Pharmaceutical Companies, Pharmaceutical Industry, Pharmaceuticals, Robert Jarvik, Breaking Business News
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Under criticism that its ads are misleading, Pfizer said Monday that it would cancel a long-running advertising campaign using the artificial heart pioneer Robert Jarvik as a spokesman for its cholesterol drug Lipitor.

Pfizer has spent more than $258 million advertising Lipitor since January 2006, most of it on the Jarvik campaign, as the company sought to protect Lipitor, the world's best-selling drug, from competition by cheaper generics.

But the campaign had come under scrutiny from a Congressional committee that is examining consumer drug advertising and has asked whether the ads misrepresented Dr. Jarvik and his credentials. Although he has a medical degree, Dr. Jarvik is not a cardiologist and is not licensed to practice medicine.



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See some examples of the ads in question below:


 
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- Nutcase I'm a Fan of Nutcase permalink
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Not to worry. Pfizer has plenty more misleading ads they can air.

cognito ergo populistae

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:02 PM on 02/27/2008
- tandrmcdonald I'm a Fan of tandrmcdonald permalink
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Note to reactionarynihilist;
Fat chance.
Gramma Rose

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:23 AM on 02/27/2008
- gcallaghan I'm a Fan of gcallaghan permalink
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Good riddance. Jarvik comes across as a pompous ass, anyway.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:59 PM on 02/26/2008
- revko I'm a Fan of revko permalink

"I am not a cardioligist but I play one on T.V. comercials"

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:11 AM on 02/26/2008
- reactionrynihilist I'm a Fan of reactionrynihilist permalink

My sister worked in the surgical appliance industry for a few years and she opened my eyes to the "pay to play" aspect of health care in the us. Having a science degree I mistakingly believed that doctors researched what was the best product or treatment for a patient. Having spent some time in a cardiologist's waiting room I realize that it is all about the drug company's reps competing for who can give the doctor's office more free lunches and other perks. I found their pitching extremely disruptive, and if they did this in plain sight, what are they doing behind closed doors?

If a drug works it shouldn't cost as much to market it as a soda or beer. We should limit how much pharma companies can spend on advertising, drugs should sell themselves through empirical results.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:01 AM on 02/26/2008
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