Direct To Consumer (DTC)

Consumers anxious about drug costs, industry influence

Matthew Arnold August 25, 2010

A fifth of consumers have asked their doctor to prescribe a drug they learned about through advertising, and fully two-thirds have received free samples of prescription drugs from their doctor - but they worry about the industry's influence on physicians, according to a Consumer Reports survey.
 

Ads about family health risk prompt lifestyle changes

Matthew Arnold August 24, 2010

Drug ads emphasizing familial health risks prompt at-risk patients to adjust their lifestyles, not just pop a pill, a study found.
 

FDA expands online consumer communications

Matthew Arnold July 27, 2010

The FDA has hired a broadband TV producer to head its online communications as the agency seeks to beef up its online content and launch a drug safety blog.
 

Consumer marketers feeling more confident, says survey

Matthew Arnold July 14, 2010

The economy might be retrenching and consumers souring, but consumer marketers are feeling more confident, according to a survey by Cegedim Dendrite which found that four in 10 expect DTC spend to increase in 2010.
 

FDA looks beyond balance in study of efficacy info

Matthew Arnold July 07, 2010

Having analyzed the presentation of risk information in DTC ads and product labeling, FDA is looking at how the potential benefits of prescription drugs are communicated.
 

Intuniv patient kit draws DDMAC untitled letter

Matthew Arnold June 30, 2010

Patient materials for Shire's ADHD drug Intuniv presented unsubstantiated effectiveness and superiority claims and downplayed important risk info, said the FDA's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communication.
 

Bayer unbranded effort aims to counter bad birth control info

Matthew Arnold June 30, 2010

Bayer wants women to come to the company for information on contraception instead of relying on coworkers, bloggers or the tube for advice.
 

For pharmas, online video, ad exchanges are the future (for everybody else, they're the present)

Matthew Arnold May 25, 2010

Advertisers ramped up investment in advertising exchanges and video last year as spending recovered, said digital agency Razorfish in its 2010 Outlook Report. Pharmas, however, continued to lag their consumer-facing counterparts as regulatory fears hindered investment in those areas.
 

J&J hires Neil Patrick Harris to narrate Listerine "documentary"

Matthew Arnold May 12, 2010

J&J's McNeil division recruited actor Neil Patrick Harris (of Doogie Howser and Dr. Horrible fame) to narrate a three-minute online documentary on the history and uses of Listerine.
 

Daiichi-Sankyo launches Sjögren's awareness efforts

Matthew Arnold May 06, 2010

Daiichi-Sankyo partnered with the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation on a survey of 400 patients and launched an unbranded site, LivingWithDryness.com, to raise awareness of the condition.
 

Insulin pen makers roll out new promos

Matthew Arnold May 05, 2010

Sanofi-Aventis US is rolling out a consumer campaign for its Lantus SoloStar pen aimed at getting people with type 2 diabetes to think differently about insulin, while Novo Nordisk revs up another racing-themed social media effort for its FlexPen.
 

Reality stars hawk allergy drugs

Matthew Arnold March 19, 2010

Spring is in the air, and that means, well, sure, robins, daffodils, love and all that, but more importantly, campaigns for allergy drugs featuring endorsements by B-list celebrity sufferers.
 

DTC spend up 4% on launches, aging blockbusters, says Kantar

Marc Iskowitz March 17, 2010

Campaigns touting new drugs -- and mature products seeking a sales boost late in their lifecycle -- nudged spending on consumer drug ads up nearly 4% to $4.8 billion last year, according Kantar Media.
 

Nexium ad campaign promises nighttime relief

Matthew Arnold February 03, 2010

AstraZeneca is answering OTC Prevacid with ads touting Nexium's nighttime benefits and taking a comical look at the lengths to which acid reflux sufferers will go for a good night's sleep.
 

P&G's Prilosec goes deep on social media

Matthew Arnold January 21, 2010

Procter & Gamble is launching a social media initiative for Prilosec as part of its bid to maintain the PPI's leadership position in a crowded market.
 

DDMAC cites fishy Cymbalta fibromyalgia ads

Matthew Arnold January 14, 2010

The FDA issued an untitled letter upbraiding Lilly for Cymbalta consumer and professional ads.
 

GSK launches puckish $15m "Sucks less" effort for Nicorette

Matthew Arnold December 09, 2009

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is taking an irreverent tone with its latest ads for Nicorette, featuring the tagline "Makes Quitting Suck Less."
 

E-samples hijack search, study asserts

Marc Iskowitz December 02, 2009

Many big pharma firms are running e-samples, a form of marketing which researchers say capitalizes on patients seeking health information and may affect prescribers' preference for brands over generics.
 

AAFP pact with Coke distasteful to some

Marc Iskowitz November 05, 2009

An alliance with the nation's largest soft drink maker to sponsor advice on sugar-free alternatives has spurred criticism of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
 

One-third of all Americans research Rx drugs online, says survey

Matthew Arnold October 01, 2009

The number of Americans researching prescription drugs online has doubled since 2005 to 102 million, according to Manhattan Research data.
 

Rx ad spend down 7.8% for first half of 2009, says TNS

Matthew Arnold September 16, 2009

US advertising spend for prescription drugs declined 7.8% to $2.3 billion for the first six months of 2009 over the same period in 2008, according to TNS Media Intelligence data.
 

Allergan taps Twilight star for acne interactive

Matthew Arnold August 28, 2009

Allergan is tweaking two teen cultural sensations with a High School Musical-themed interactive campaign for its acne medication Aczone, starring Michael Welch of Twilight fame.
 

DTC ads made some cancer patients doubt their docs

Matthew Arnold August 17, 2009

A survey of patients at Harvard's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that 11% said ads for cancer-related drugs had made them less confident in their providers' judgment.
 

Centocor launches online talk show on rheumatoid arthritis

Matthew Arnold July 30, 2009

From the people who brought you the disease awareness documentary comes New Way RA, an online talk show for people with rheumatoid arthritis hosted by Inside Edition anchor Deborah Norville.
 

Last chance to grab glory

June 04, 2009

If you still haven't entered the MM&M Awards 2009, then you'd better move fast--today (June 5) is the final deadline for submissions.
 

Pfizer aims to differentiate Toviaz with patient support program

Matthew Arnold June 03, 2009

Pfizer is launching Detrol follow-on Toviaz with a 12-week patient support program featuring a progress tracker, personalized emails and tips on bladder training techniques. The company said many overactive bladder patients currently suffer from a lack of behavioral intervention.
 

Consider the 'reasonable consumer,' says FDA draft guidance

Matthew Arnold May 26, 2009

DTC drug and device marketers looking to steer clear of FDA ad reviewers should follow the "reasonable consumer standard" and consider the net impression their promotions make on the lay viewer, not just the particulars, FDA said in a draft guidance.
 

DDMAC warns J&J on Ultram webcast

Matthew Arnold May 20, 2009

The FDA hit Johnson & Johnson with a warning letter over a webcast promoting pain med Ultram ER, saying it overstated efficacy and underplayed or omitted risks.
 

SSL taps Saatchi Wellness for Durex US

Matthew Arnold May 18, 2009

Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness won the US integrated marketing account for Durex following a four-way pitch. The assignment spans advertising, digital, retail and CRM and includes the launch of the new Bare condom.
 

Sanofi launches corporate web TV site

Matthew Arnold May 15, 2009

Sanofi-Aventis launched a web TV site, sanofi-aventis.tv, featuring videos ranging from executive interviews to disease information and even a corporate manifesto.
 

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