Concerned that Lipitor ads featuring Dr. Robert Jarvik could be misleading, a congressional committee wants to interview him about his role as the drug's pitchman. Jarvik pioneered an artificial heart more than 25 years ago, but had toiled in relative obscurity until he began appearing in the television ads two years ago. Even though Jarvik holds a medical degree, he is not a cardiologist and is not licensed to practice medicine. And, for that matter, what qualifies him to pose as a rowing enthusiast? The ads have depicted him--among other outdoorsy pursuits--rowing a one-man racing shell swiftly across …

Wal-Mart will open "The Clinic at Wal-Mart" as a joint venture with local hospital systems in Atlanta, Dallas and Little Rock starting in April. For several years, the retailer has leased space in dozens of its stores to outside companies that operate quick-service health stops. About 7% of Americans have tried a clinic at least once, according to an estimate by the Convenient Care Association, a trade group. That number is expected to increase dramatically, as chains like CVS, Target and Walgreen partner with mini-clinic providers like RediClinic and MinuteClinic to expand operations. The trade group estimates there …

Amid aggressive efforts by tobacco companies to push smoking in countries where there has been relatively little effort to discourage it, the World Health Organization is expected to release a report today that may offer a plan for combating tobacco use globally. The United Nations agency's report was partially funded by New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's Bloomberg Philanthropies. The billionaire and former smoker pledged $125 million to a global antismoking campaign in 2006 that was to include pushes for smoking bans and higher taxes in other countries, smoking cessation programs, and systems to monitor global tobacco use and …

John Deere will announce at the Magic fashion show in Las Vegas this week that it is getting into the jeans game, with denim trousers made especially for people who work the land. The clothing line will also include jackets and shirts. The apparel line is the first produced by John Deere, which until now was best known in style circles for its green caps donned by farmers and celebrities alike. "In the past, we treated merchandise as more of a promotional giveaway," says Molly Reddish, category manager for John Deere brand licensing. John Deere joins blue-collar …

Delta Air Lines' board of directors is expected to meet over the next several days, according to a person briefed on the carrier's merger discussions with Northwest Airlines that would create the nation's largest carrier. A deal could be announced next week. The person, who is not authorized to talk about the negotiations, says one point of contention has been the role of Northwest CEO Doug Steenland's at a combined company. It isn't clear if other issues like the combined company's name, its headquarters location and labor issues have been resolved, but management structure with few exceptions have …

Acknowledging that its major U.S. businesses are in need of rejuvenation to meet changing consumer tastes and to fend off tough competitors, Yum Brands will restructure KFC sometime next year with non-fried chicken as "the centerpiece of our overall brand transformation," according to CEO David Novak. KFC, formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken, has dabbled with non-fried fare before, with mixed results. Its core business remains fried chicken on the bone. But disappointing sales indicate a need for dramatic change, Novak says, including "a more youthful and contemporary image." New advertising as part of that campaign will appear later this …

Marketers misunderstand--and inefficiently target--this country's 78 million baby boomers, according to a new survey of 1,320 baby boomers from Edelman. The results find that marketers overgeneralize, misrepresent and sometimes ignore the generation, lumping them together and, in the process, alienating them. Consumers born between 1946 and 1964 comprise nearly 24% of the population, have a buying power of $3 trillion, and include many of the country's current business and political leaders. But only 71% of those surveyed defined themselves as boomers, which means 22 million Americans--generally those over 60 years old and under 46--don't even consider themselves as part …