Congress Steps Up Pressure On FDA Over Lipitor Ad
Ad Age, Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:46 PM
A House panel probing the way prescription drugs are marketed has upped the pressure on the Food and Drug Administration, insisting that regulators explain their approval of a Lipitor ad starring artificial heart inventor Dr. Robert Jarvik. The House Energy and Commerce Committee had earlier written a letter to Lipitor parent Pfizer seeking an explanation for Jarvik's appearance in the ad, but is now asking the FDA to turn over records relating to its approval of the spot.
Read the whole story at Ad Age »
In the ad, Jarvik says, "I'm glad I take Lipitor," but later noted he wasn't doing that when the campaign began.
"We are aware of advertisements for Pfizer's Lipitor with Dr. Robert Jarvik, who appears to state in the advertisement that he takes Lipitor," write committee Chairman John Dingell and Rep. Bart Stupak to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. "We are concerned that consumers may misinterpret the health claims of a prescription drug promoted in a direct-to-consumer advertisement utilizing a celebrity physician," they say. "In addition, we are concerned that Dr. Jarvik's qualifications may be misinterpreted, given that he may not be a practicing physician with a valid license in any state."
Recent Around the Net In Media Articles
-
'NY Times' Eliminates Many Of Its Sports Blogs June 19, 3:18 p.m.
Keeping tabs on which New York Times blogs have been eliminated as part of the papers' ... -
Time Inc. Pubs Save $10M With Switch To Thinner Paper June 19, 3:18 p.m.
To save up to $10 million a year, Time Inc. magazines have been "quietly switching from ... -
Wheeler Likely To Be Next FCC Chairman June 19, 3:18 p.m.
After a friendly confirmation hearing, it seems increasingly likely that President Obama's choice for Federal Communications ... -
Phillips To Become 'Glamour' Publisher June 18, 5:50 p.m.
Masthead shuffle at Condé Nast: Connie Ann Phillips is returning to the company as publisher of ... -
Scripps, A&E Roll Out TV Everywhere Apps June 18, 5:50 p.m.
Three of A&E's channels -- the History Channel, Lifetime and A&E -- are launching Android apps ... -
MySpace To Stream 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' Music Sets June 18, 5:50 p.m.
In a partnership aimed at regaining "cultural relevance," the newly revived MySpace has signed a one-year ... -
WaPo Launching Paywall For Southern Maryland Papers June 17, 3:07 p.m.
The Washington Post Company is rolling out a paywall for its Southern Maryland Newspapers: the Maryland ... -
Martha Stewart Omnimedia Redesigns Flagship Pub After $3M Earnings Loss June 17, 3:07 p.m.
In the wake of $3 million in earnings losses in the first quarter, Martha Stewart Omnimedia ... -
Charter And Time Warner Deal Seen As Unlikely June 17, 3:07 p.m.
Charter Communications, mulling its acquisition strategy, has made overtures to Time Warner Cable. But "sources close ... -
How CNN's Jeff Zucker Is Changing Its Formula June 14, 3:05 p.m.
Under the leadership of president Jeff Zucker's, CNN is "readying a bevy of docuseries that could ...
Be the first to comment on "Congress Steps Up Pressure On FDA Over Lipitor Ad "
Leave a Comment