[NPInfo] Lipitor Newspaper ad

[David or Diane Dito]

Dave et al.,

I wrote Pfizer in 2003 about their "ask your doctor" language in their DTC
marketing for Zyrtec and other products, addressing my letter to Dr.
McKinnell (former chief) directly. I made the point that NP and PA
prescribers account for a large share of their business, but that they were
keeping us invisible where it mattered most...in the public eye.

I got a letter back from Greg Duncan, a VP for product marketing, that
stated Pfizer "wholeheartedly" concurred that NPs and PAs are "key
contributors to patient care and often serve as the primary provider of
quality care for patients across the country." He went on to state that
Pfizer recognized this with "a host of educational and promotional efforts
directed to the NP and PA community," as well as grants to NPs and PAs for
research projects, and other advisory roles.

However, nowhere did he address the key issue: the wording of their DTC
advertising and the "ask your doctor" language...not once!...in his reply.

So while they might wear the veneer of being "a great NP/PA company" by
"supporting" NPs and PAs behind the scenes, Pfizer is not willing to take
the step to support or recognize us in public...where, I would argue, it
counts the most. Yet they're willing for us to keep writing scripts for
Pfizer products as part of this two-faced relationship.

It's called betrayal.

Diane Dito

-----Original Message-----
From: npinfo-bounces at nurse.net [mailto:npinfo-bounces at nurse.net] On Behalf
Of David Mittman
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 10:45 AM
To: ACC Listserv; NPinfo
Subject: [NPInfo] Lipitor Newspaper ad

They just started running in all of the papers in NY and NJ.
³Doctor is mentioned six times.
The new Detrol TV ad says DETROL=DOCTOR!!!!

I AM AMAZED as Pfizer has historically been a great NP/PA company. They have
been spoken to about this for about 2 years now. The ACC actually sent 200
separate letters from PAs and NPs.
Let¹s see what happens.
Dave


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