Pfizer pulls controversial Lipitor TV ads.
The CBS Evening News (2/25, story 6, 0:30, Couric) reported, "You won't be seeing any more of those Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) ads featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik who invented the artificial heart." Drugmaker "Pfizer said it's pulling the ads for the cholesterol-lowering drug because they led to 'misimpressions.'"
According to NBC Nightly News (2/25, story 9, 0:35, Williams), "Questions about Dr. Jarvik's credibility as a spokesman" have been raised by a congressional committee, among others.
On the front page of its Business Day section, the New York Times (2/26, C1, Saul) notes that Pfizer "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."
According to the Wall Street Journal (2/26, B5, Johnson), "Dr. Jarvik has starred in six campaigns for Pfizer." As an example, "[o]ne ad depicts him at a lake discussing why he takes Lipitor." The ad "plays up the fact that he is a physician, saying, 'Just because I'm a doctor doesn't mean I don't worry about my cholesterol,'" and adding, "Lipitor is one of the most researched medicines. You don't have to be a doctor to appreciate that."
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the readers of
Shy and Retiring for the grassroots letter writing campaign that was finally able to convince Pfizer to dislodge and jettison that mountebank Jarvik from his position as spokesdoctor for Lipitor. This was a very effective use of our collective voice here at S&R, but realize that we have only won half of the battle. The next (and most critical) phase is to convince the suits at Pfizer that yours truly should be offered the exalted position of touter-in-chief for Atorvastatin. I refer you to an earlier post where my unique qualifications for this job were clearly outlined .
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