I can't turn on the radio these days without hearing adverts for erectile dysfunction, case in point being the offer of help from pharma giants Lilly. 40over40 website.
In fact, I was listening to TalkSport only the other night because I couldn't sleep. The four blocks of advertising crammed into the one hour ALL carried the 40over40 advertisement. The same ad has appeared on the network channels here in the UK and caused a bit of a stink for the MHRA.
For those that don't know, Lilly manufacture the erectile dysfunction pill, Cialis.
Cialis was discovered by Glaxo Wellcome [now GlaxoSmithKline] under a partnership between Glaxo and ICOS to develop new drugs that began in August 1991. [Source]
Why were they allowing such blatant advertising of a prescription based drug?
I wrote about the 40over40 website and promotions sometime ago.
This from May earlier this year:
I pondered complaining to the MHRA but it seems they have already received a complaint about this particular ad, a complaint that they did not seem that concerned about.
** Prohibition of advertisements for medicinal products on prescription only
7. Subject to regulation 11, no person shall issue an advertisement which is likely to lead to the use of a relevant medicinal product which is a medicinal product for supply by prescription only and which is subject to any of the restrictions imposed by section 58(2) of the Act
Source: The Medicines (Advertising) Regulations 1994
Sadly, for Lilly at least, it looks like Pfizer have won the battle of the big flops according to today's Sunday Express.
In a small [oo err missus] article, they write:
TESCO is to become the first supermarket in Britain to sell viagra, it was reported last night.
It would give men the chance to buy the anti-impotence drug without a prescription.
The tablets are earmarked to go on sale at 300 UK stores from next week at the knock-down price of £52 for eight instead of the usual £55 for four.
Pfizer's advertising by proxy was clear for all to see back in January 2009 when they teamed up with the British regulator [MHRA] to make a series of ads, apparently to warn people about the dangers of buying prescription drugs online.
The ad showed a man opening a package which contained a packet of pills, he opened the pills, swallowed one then seconds later was seen pulling a dead rat from his mouth.
The voice over then stated: "Rat poison, just one of the dangerous ingredients that may be found in fake medicines purchased from illegal websites."
The message, 'GET REAL, GET A PRESCRIPTION' is then shown along with the website, realdanger.co.uk
The ad was paid for by Viagra giants Pfizer, who worked alongside the British regulator [MHRA]
To me, it was blatant advertising and the MHRA were playing a massive part in allowing a prescription drug to be promoted.
Here's the 30 second ad:
Later in 2009, November to be exact, the MHRA and Pfizer launched their combined effort in cinema's throughout the UK. I wrote about this HERE.
The fruit of the combined loins of Pfizer and the MHRA seem evident today. No longer will you have to face your doctor with your erectile dysfunction problems. Just pop along to Tesco, pick up the pills, go to the cashier [9 times out of 10 it will be a young girl] and pay the £52.
According to the MHRA website there has been a total of 1,667 reactions to Viagra, 972 of which have been adverse. Total number of fatal ADR reports: 119
The collaboration between the MHRA and the industry never ceases to amaze me.
It's time to bang some heads together of this old mob who apparently look out for the welfare of patients.
Have they heard of the street drug, "Sextasy"?
"Sextasy" is a combination of Ecstasy and Viagra.
Allowing it to be sold in a store surely goes against what the MHRA stand for?
This from mdma.net:
Clubgoers call a combination of the two drugs "sextasy" because it heightens their sexual experience. But health experts say the two drugs are a dangerous mix. Doctors warn the combo can cause heart problems and open the door to sexually transmitted diseases.
"It is extremely easy to get over Internet," Jennifer Berman said. "All you have to do is simply fill out a form. At some parties, you'll find bowls filled with Viagra, as party favors."
Well, not any more. Just head on down to Tesco, pull out a trolley, zip down the aisle, purchase your Viagra...then head out clubbing.
Nice job MHRA. You guys sure do know how to protect the public.
Oh, incidently, you can shop at Tesco online, although it is not an illegal website.
Fid
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