Vytorin and Zetia Are Dead in the Water
Physicians have virtually stopped writing new prescriptions (NWRx's) for Vytorin and Zetia since the bad news about the ENHANCE trial became public. This is evident in the chart below compiled by...
New Vytorin TV Ads Are in the Works – IMHO
According to an AP report, Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. have suspended TV ads for Vytorin a week after a study revealed the cholesterol drug is "no more effective than...
Sleep Aid Drug Print Ad Triptych
I found the following 3 full-page ads for sleep medications in the January 28 issue of Time Magazine (click for an enlarged view):I think I arranged these in the order of...
Different Views of Pharma and its Critics
Last week, I posted this view of the pharmaceutical industry vs. its critics over at Pharma Blogosphere:I called it "Rope-a-Dope-a-Pharma" primarily because I thought the industry played right into the hands...
Consumer Reports Rip Rozerem Ad — A New One!
Consumer Reports has just posted the second in its series of CR AdWatch videos that add commentary and context to widely seen pharmaceutical advertisements. You’ll recognize this ad immediately: It’s the...
The Statin Lottery: Number Needed to Treat Statistic
Suppose I invited you to join this contest:250 people are recruited to participate in the contest. Each person gives me $1,000 and after 1 year one person in the group--selected at...
Duluth Bans Tchotchkes — That’s Snot Funny!
According to a report in the The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, a Duluth-based health system is declaring a ban on drug-logo freebies, no matter how small. That includes, according to the report, a...
FDA Won’t be Previewing TV DTC Ads!
The FDA has announced in the Federal Register that it was canceling its program to preview broadcast DTC ads submitted to it by the drug industry. This program was inserted in...
My Cardiologist is on Vacation – “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not...
It's been nearly 48 hours since I called my cardiologist's office to ask him about Zetia, which he prescribed to me long before the recent news of the ENHANCE trial flop...
Look Out for Sexier Cialis Ads — Maybe Including Beaver!
Now that the FDA has approved Cialis for once daily use for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED; see Lilly press release), expect to see a twist to direct-to-consumer (DTC) ads...
