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TMFHelical (99.04)

Astelin - For Temporary Relief of Ethics?

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May 09, 2008 – Comments (4)

I blogged a couple of days back about a radio advertisement I heard for a pharmaceutical product.

No, that's not right really.  The advertisement was for a contest on Youtube soliciting people to make advertisements about the product and post them on youtube.  I thought this a sneaky (unethical) way of skirting the requirements of direct-to-consumer advertising.  If the ad isn't actually made by the company, then they aren't really to blame if its out of compliance right?  And I suppose the fees can be ignored as well.

I couldn't remember the product at the time - but found it.  It is Astelin, a prescription nasal allergy medication from Meda Pharmaceuticals (private).  This competes with a whole slew of OTC (over the counter) medications that can advertise freely.

Here is the campaign - http://www.youtube.com/astelin

Slippery slope IMO.  Yes you can post whatever you want to on Youtube.  But being solicited to do so by the company crosses the ethical line in my book.

Zz (Ralph)

4 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On May 09, 2008 at 3:39 PM, madcowmonkey (< 20) wrote:

Has anybody done one on viagra. I have a great skit for that little blue pill.

Free advertisement for the pharm/drug companies? Not regulated? Are the companies sure they can deal with the false accusations made by morbid people like me? 

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#2) On May 09, 2008 at 4:36 PM, madcowmonkey (< 20) wrote:

What the heck does vasomotor rhinitis mean?

Answer: Inflammation in the nose that produces large amounts of snot. Don't get it mixed up with common allergies, even though they have the same characteristics.  There is an outside source that causes the inflammation. It is called coke. If you find yourself with a severe runny nose and you did a bunch of coke, you may want to try the astelin inhalent. It will really cure you. Side effects are: you become addicted to coke, your brain shrinks, and you may find yourself rambling to a video.

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#3) On May 09, 2008 at 4:43 PM, TMFHelical (99.04) wrote:

MCM,

You should definitely submit a video.

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#4) On May 09, 2008 at 5:00 PM, leohaas (92.46) wrote:

Nothing slippery about this. More of a (clever?) attempt to mek money of a new medium. But what is the incentve for the poster? And why would I watch any of those postings?

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