Dr. Robert Jarvik is known as the inventor of the artificial heart more than 20 years ago.
More recently he’s known as the pitchman for Lipitor, a top-selling cholesterol-lowering drug.
Now Dr. Jarvik is known as the man congressional investigators want to talk to about his work for drug maker Pfizer, maker of Lipitor.
At $12 billion in sales a year, it’s the best selling drug in the world.
Dr. Jarvik tells the television audience in the ads, “I’m glad I take Lipitor, as a doctor and a dad.”
The problem is that Dr. Jarvik is not licensed to practice medicine and cannot prescribe medicine. He did go to medical school but chose science and research over becoming a practicing physician.
Robert Jarvik appeared on “Good Morning America” today to answer critics who say he should not be pitching a drug as a doctor who cannot prescribe medicine because it's misleading consumers.
“Our ad campaign with Pfizer is an educational one,” he said on television Wednesday. “Lipitor is the most widely prescribed drug in the country. For every prescription there is a doctor writing it. It’s a huge vote of confidence.”
Jarvik says it’s clear he is not a practicing physician. He declined to say how much he’s made from the ads other than to say it would be “considered a lot by most people”.
Dr. Jarvik says he did take Lipitor before he began pitching for Pfizer. But lending his credibility to create the impression he is prescribing the drug is the question that Michigan Representatives John Dingell and Bart Stumpak want to explore further.
In a letter to Pfizer, Dingell asks, “Is he entitled to appear here and prescribe or give the impression he can prescribe prescription pharmaceuticals for patients? I think the law in every state says no, he’s not, because he can’t prescribe medicine in any state we can find.”
The representatives want records that prove Jarvik takes or took the medication.
Pfizer responds that Dr. Jarvik is a professional who is well-respected and advises consumers to speak to their own physicians about heart health.
Celebrity product pitches are big business. Sally Field advertises Boniva, Sen.. Bob Dole voiced support for Viagra. Drug companies spend about $4.8 billion every year on advertising.
But using a doctor to pitch drugs may be an ethical line that shouldn’t be crossed.
“We’re looking to see if there is wrongdoing but also we’re looking to see if the law needs to be changed to give us a better level of protection for the consumers,” Rep. Dingell says.
Lipitor’s patent expires in 2010 and Pfizer does not have a replacement ready to market. #