Adios, Dr Jarvik

[Daryl]

Saying that advertising for its cholesterol drug Lipitor had created false impressions, the drug maker Pfizer announced Monday that it would cancel the campaign, which features Dr. Robert Jarvik, a pioneer in artificial hearts.

The New York company spent $258 million between January 2006 and September 2007 on the Jarvik campaign as it sought to protect sales of Lipitor, the world’s best-selling drug, against competition from cheaper generics.

But the advertising campaign faced scrutiny by a congressional committee looking into consumer drug advertising. That committee was examining whether the ads misrepresented Dr. Jarvik and his credentials. Although he has a medical degree, Dr. Jarvik is not a cardiologist and is not licensed to practice medicine.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/business/25cnd-pfizer.html?ex=1361682000&en=b07f42306f46ff54&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Calianna]

I"m very glad to hear they're dropping that commercial. Of all the
"exercise, eat right, and take our statins" commercials out there, that one annoyed me the most.

They all annoy me, that one was just the most offensive to me.

[CindySue48]

They all annoy me, that one was just the most offensive to me.
I agree....especially the ad where he says he became a doctor after his father got ill!

[LessLiz]

I love the body double rowing on the lake. Just love it!

[KarenJ]

Gollum fell onto the cutting room floor? Good news. :lol:

[mike_d]

"The way in which we presented Dr. Jarvik in these ads has, unfortunately, led to misimpressions and distractions from our primary goal of encouraging patient and physician dialogue on the leading cause of death in the world -- cardiovascular disease. We regret this," Ian Read, Pfizer's president of worldwide pharmaceutical operations, said in a statement.Seems like much to do about nothing, its only an ad-- the dialog should be more about proper diet and the government should be advertising it. I mean even golfers can promote cars and motor oil.

[Squarecube]

Maybe witht the extra time, Jarvik can work on an artificial pancreas

[Lisa N]

Hmmm...they're still running the ads here. Just saw one about an hour ago.

[renegadiab]

Seems like much to do about nothing, its only an ad-- the dialog should be more about proper diet and the government should be advertising it. I mean even golfers can promote cars and motor oil.

Yep, they will just come up with another annoying ad about diet, exercise, and Lipitor. The patent on Lipitor will be expiring soon and they have to milk their brand name cash cow for all they can.

Actually, the Jarvik ads don't annoy me as much as previous Lipitor ads that portrayed the guy with high cholesterol as a klutz. :)

[ReginaW]

I agree....especially the ad where he says he became a doctor after his father got ill!

Jarvik is a graduate of Syracuse University. He earned a master’s degree in medical engineering from New York University. After that he went to work for Dr. Willem Johan Kolff, a Dutch born physician-inventor at the University of Utah, who produced the first dialysis machine, and who was working on other artificial organs, including a heart. Jarvik received his M.D. in 1976 from the University of Utah. He did not complete an internship or residency and has never been licensed to practice medicine

[CindySue48]

Jarvik is a graduate of Syracuse University. He earned a master’s degree in medical engineering from New York University. After that he went to work for Dr. Willem Johan Kolff, a Dutch born physician-inventor at the University of Utah, who produced the first dialysis machine, and who was working on other artificial organs, including a heart. Jarvik received his M.D. in 1976 from the University of Utah. He did not complete an internship or residency and has never been licensed to practice medicineYep, and I've read that being on his artificial heart has been described as a "living hell".