Reuters North American News Service, January 8th, 2008
(Adds Pfizer statement, details from lawmakers, Lipitor sales
figures)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. House
committee said Monday it was probing Pfizer
Inc advertisements that feature heart specialist Robert
Jarvik pitching its blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor.
Democrats on the House Energy & Commerce Committee said
they were worried the widely seen commercials may mislead
consumers. The probe is part of an investigation into celebrity
endorsements of prescription medications, the lawmakers said.
"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," top committee Democrats said in a letter to
Pfizer.
The letter also said the lawmakers were "concerned that Dr.
Jarvik's qualifications may be misinterpreted in this
advertisement campaign given that he may not be a practicing
physician with a valid license in any state."
The ads tout Jarvik as the inventor of the Jarvik
artificial heart. Pfizer promotes Lipitor for lowering
cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke
for patients with several risk factors for heart disease.
Lipitor, the world's best-selling prescription drug, has
annual sales of about $12 billion.
In a statement, Pfizer said Jarvik "is a respected health
care professional and heart expert" and "knows how imperative
it is for patients to do everything they can to keep their
heart working well."
The company said the ads help educate consumers about the
importance of keeping their hearts healthy and urge them to
discuss the matter with their doctors.
A man who answered the phone at Jarvik Heart Inc in New
York, where Jarvik serves as president and chief executive,
said he had no comment about the claim that Jarvik may not be a
practicing physician. He said the company might provide comment
later.
The letter to Pfizer, signed by Michigan Democrats John
Dingell and Bart Stupak, asks the company to provide all
records relating to the advertising campaign for Lipitor,
including records on Jarvik's qualifications and information on
how much Pfizer paid him.
Dingell chairs the House Energy & Commerce Committee, and
Stupak heads its subcommittee on oversight and investigations.
(Reporting by Lisa Richwine, editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and
Carol Bishopric)
