Pfizer Paid Renowned Cardiac Scientist More Than $1 Million to Promote Lipitor
Thursday, February 07, 2008
A congressional committee believes the inventor of the first artificial heart may have deceived viewers by using a body double in advertisements for a popular cholesterol drug he promotes. Dr. Robert Jarvik has worked as a spokesperson for the top-selling anti-cholesterol drug Lipitor. Congressional investigators believe a body double was hired to make Jarvik look more athletic in tv ads for the drug, according to the committee.In one commercial, Jarvik rows across the water in a canoe.
The committee gave ABC News an exclusive look at a letter it sent out in January to Lipitor maker Pfizer, asking for "contracts, e-mails, correspondence, and scripts of television and print advertisements" featuring Jarvik. It also wanted to know how much Jarvik was paid for his pitchman position. The committee gave Pfizer until Jan. 21 to respond.
When he appeared on "Good Morning America" last month to respond to the controversy, Jarvik didn't give a specific dollar value for his role. "I'm paid an amount that I think for a celebrity ad would be considered a lot by most people," he said.
But a contract uncovered in the probe discovered Jarvik was guaranteed $1.35 million for appearing in the advertisements.
The chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., has been a vocal critic of the ads because he said Jarvik "appears to be giving medical advice, but apparently he has never obtained a license to practice or prescribe medicine."
"The question here is, 'How is it being marketed? How is it being advertised?'"
In the commercials, Jarvik says, "Lipitor is one of the most researched medicines. I'm glad I take Lipitor, as a doctor, and a dad."
Yet the man recognized for his medical breakthrough is not capable of legally prescribing medicine, because he is not licensed to practice medicine. Jarvik ended his training after medical school instead of finishing a medical internship.
"I am a medical scientist, not a practical physician," he said on "Good Morning America" last month. "I think it's very upfront. I am a doctor. I have long experience with heart disease."
In the ads Jarvik maintains that he wants to protect people's hearts but with cheaper generic drugs currently available on the market, the committee is looking to protect peoples' wallets.
Posted in Accutane