Healthy Skepticism Library item: 13606
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: news
Richwine L, Heavey S.
Ads for 3 drugs face U.S. lawmaker scrutiny
Reuters 2008 May 5
http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN0539476620080505?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=10001
Full text:
WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) – A U.S. congressional panel will examine television commercials for cholesterol drugs Lipitor and Vytorin and for anemia drug Procrit at a Thursday hearing on whether such advertisements are deceptive or misleading.
Representatives of the companies that make the drugs — Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co Inc and Schering-Plough Corp — will testify at the hearing, according to a notice issued on Monday by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.
The House committee, which began investigating drug advertising in January, will spotlight a series of Vytorin commercials that cite “food and family” as two sources of cholesterol.
Merck and Schering-Plough, which sell Vytorin through a joint venture, pulled those ads in January after reporting the drug failed to keep arteries any clearer than an older generic drug. The companies have continued their print versions of the ad, Irvine said.
Skip Irvine, spokesman for the Merck and Schering-Plough joint venture, confirmed the companies were asked to appear before the committee but could not say who would represent them. He added they would make a statement at the hearing but offered no other details.
Lawmakers will also look at Pfizer’s Lipitor television commercials featuring the inventor of the Jarvik artificial heart, Dr. Robert Jarvik.
Pfizer pulled the Lipitor ads in February after Democratic lawmakers said Jarvik appeared to be offering medical advice even though he is not a practicing physician. Media reports that a stunt double was used in one scene featuring a rower also drew concern.
Representatives for Pfizer did not return calls seeking comment.
It was not immediately clear which of Johnson & Johnson’s Procrit ads would be examined at the committee hearing. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Biotech unit, which makes Procrit, said the company was cooperating with the committee.
The House panel, which is led by Democrat John Dingell of Michigan, will also examine the effects of consumer drug advertising on prescribing habits and sales, among other issues.
On the New York Stock Exchange, Pfizer closed off 9 cents at $20.52, Johnson & Johnson fell 36 cents to $67.90, Merck dropped 39 cents to $38.98, and Schering-Plough ended down 15 cents at $18.75. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine and Susan Heavey, editing by Richard Chang)
