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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.

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."

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