Pfizer Bashed for Trying Too Hard in Celebrex Ad

It's shaping up to be one of those weeks in which my sympathies go out to people I've previously criticized. Today I'm sympathizing with Pfizer -- just a little bit -- because of Public Citizen's complaint to the FDA about the company's new Celebrex ad.

PC reckons the ad is "dangerous" and "misleading" because the ad's states claims are "contrary to scientific evidence," and because Celebrex is in fact more dangerous than other NSAID painkillers. As I noted last week, the first line of the ad states, "You may think some prescription NSAID pain relievers like ibuprofen and naproxen don't have any cardiovascular risks. But based on available research that's not clear."
 
PC may be technically right on this issue, but broadly, from the point of view of Joe Patient, PC is wrong. Here's why:

If this ad gives any impression at all, it is that Celebrex is a drug that can kill you. Not once but TWICE does the ad say that the product may result in "death." In fact, the death warnings in the ad overshadow whatever benefit message Pfizer is touting here. I've watched the ad twice and taken notes on it and I'm still not sure what the take-away message was supposed to be, other than "we had our lawyers write this one for us."

Thus PC's criticism of the ad amounts to punishing Pfizer for trying too hard to be upfront about the product's many risks.

I will be surprised if the FDA asks for any changes in the ad because I've previously been told by execs at Pfizer that the company asks the FDA to look at its ads before they air. Watch this space for updates ...

Comments

[weight loss acomplia]

Celebrex medication is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which relieves pain and inflammation (swelling). It is used to treat

pain, swelling and stiffness due to arthritis. This drug works by blocking the enzyme in your body that makes prostaglandins. Decreasing

prostaglandins helps to reduce pain and swelling.

http://www.drugs-generic.info/index.php?prod=Celebrex

Do not take this medicine if you have had a severe allergic reactoin to aspirin or any medicine containing aspirin or to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as piroxicam, ibuprofen, naproxen, sulindac).

Do not take this medicine if you have had a severe allergic reactoin to a sulfonamide antibiotic (such as sulfamethoxazole or sulfisoxazole). A severe reaction includes a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness.

http://www.caldrugs.com/pill/Celebrex.html