WP: FDA Orders Levitra Ad Off the Air

[DeepModem Mom]

FDA Orders Levitra Ad Off the Air
TV Spot Doesn't Explain Drug's Side Effects

By Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2005; Page E01


The Food and Drug Administration has ordered drug giants Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC to immediately pull a television ad for impotence drug Levitra, saying that the commercial does not adequately state the drug's potential side effects and that it cannot substantiate claims that it is superior to competitors such as Viagra or that it improves female satisfaction during sexual activity.

The 15-second ad, called "My Man," which includes the tag line, "Levitra: When it counts," features an actress asking, "In the mood for something different?" She goes on to say Levitra is "the best way to experience that difference."

The FDA ruled the claim suggests that Levitra is better than its rivals in treating erectile dysfunction.

"FDA is not aware of substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience demonstrating that Levitra is superior to other treatments," the FDA said in a letter to the companies that was posted yesterday.

Levitra is the second impotence drug to have one of its television ads pulled. In November, the FDA told Pfizer Inc. to discontinue a Viagra ad that referred to the actor as "wild thing," saying the company did not state that the drug is for men and failed to mention potential side effects. During the commercial, a browbeaten actor grows blue horns the same color as the pill and appears to become more sexually interested in his female partner....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57656-2005Apr15.html

[otohara]

1. When He Want's It

What about what the woman wants? What if she doesn't want it?

[BOSSHOG]

3. Yeah, I found that commercial pretty damned tacky

Like Paul Anka singing "You're Having My Baby."

I'm a healthy 50 year old Male who used to be like the energizer bunny. Now I'm like the old bull up on the hillside; but, I wouldn't take any of those drugs for fear of a heart attack.

[Warpy]

8. Boss, yer a wise man

Men have DIED from those drugs when they've been too embarrassed to tell the doc they've used them when they show up in an ER with chest pain. The first line drug for any sort of cardiac event is nitroglycerine, and that combined with Viagra can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure.

And yes, I've had to pick these guys up off the floor more than once.

[ltfranklin]

6. The answer to that...

...is the modified version of Viagra that you put under your (well, the guy's) tougue. They supposedly take only 5-15 minutes to work, time well spent on Foreplay! Works fast enough to permit you to wait until you can determine that she want's it too before taking it.

Of course, taking a viagra before going out on a date is kinda like carrying a couple of condoms with you...more a sign of hopeful planning than an expectation of success. At least, if she does want it, you are prepared to vend it!

Frankly, "When He Want's It" sounds like a rather ill-considered advertising slogan.

[magnussun]

13. Perverts!

"...is the modified version of Viagra that you put under your (well, the guy's) tougue. They supposedly take only 5-15 minutes to work, time well spent on Foreplay! Works fast enough to permit you to wait until you can determine that she want's it too before taking it."

Is there a "non-sexual touching" drug? The last thing we need are more men who start grabbing at your boob within a minute of kissing.

M

[ltfranklin]

18. Did I misspeak?

When I said "wait until you can determine that she want's it too before taking it", I was referring to taking the viagra, not taking in the sexual meaning! And I was assuming that both parties would wait until they understood each others intention before that would happen. Why did you assume I meant differently?

And some of us (older diabetics, to be specific) are just happy that we have gained back possibilities that were lost to us, so I appreciate not having assumptions made in this respect, particularly the label "Pervert". And to my mind, somebody who'd "start grabbing at your boob within a minute of kissing" would probably be that way with or without chemical aid.

[magnussun]

33. sorry

I have this tendency to go off on another subject (perverts) and I didn't mean to imply YOU were a pervert or people who would use sexual dysfunction drugs responsibly.

[ltfranklin]

34. No problem...

Just count to 10, give a little whistle, breath deeply, think of England...then, if you still feel the same way, go to it! I'd rather hear an apology later than silence now on some subjects.

[Conservativesux]

19. Arnold just grabs a woman's boobs, no kissing involved ! EOM

:)

[Warpy]

7. No shit, rape was definitely implied

along with female passivity. It was limp dick drug porn.

These drugs are the main reason I'd like to see all prescription drug advertising OFF THE TUBE and directed only to physicians. The adverts are universally tacky and disgusting, never mind advertising to people who cannot directly purchase them.

[Conservativesux]

17. LOL!! You have a good point! EOM

[sally343434]

2. What? They didn't pony up enough cash?

Of course the ads are deceptive and misleading. But today's FDA doesn't really care about that. If anything, this only means these companies didn't pony up enough cash for The Cabal, so they're being punished for that instead. The "miraculous" return to the market of ephedra and silicone implants in the past few days shows that honesty and consumer safety are the last things the FDA cares about.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Ephedra almost killed me ten years ago

I take an occasional ibuprofen for knee pain, but stay far away from all those drugs with "side effects."

[Robbien]

5. Exactly what I was thinking. Viagra must have kicked in more cash

and Levitra must not have matched Viagra's bribe.

The FDA and EPA now work only for big business interests.

[SOS]

10. Maybe

Bayer (Germany) and Glaxo (UK) aren't familiar with the bribery procedure here in the US?
Someone needs to inform these Europeans of the relevant Cayman Islands account numbers.

[AnneD]

28. Yhat was MY first thought......

Bayer didn't pony up enough to the war chest.

[Wright Patman]

9. Is it just me or is

this country sort of preoccupied with sex? Sex and death, as Woody Allen used to say.

It's way worse than it was when I was growing up. And it is the same generation (baby boomers) demanding it be constantly discussed.

I started to say "I'm not a prude," but I think maybe I am compared to most Americans.

[leftchick]

12. It is embarrassing for me as a woman with 2 young sons

to hear those commercials with them in the room. I have a very fast mute finger thank god! I can't imagine with the FCC standards for Janet's boob and radio how in the hell those things are allowed on TV. Oh yeah, those "feminine oder" ones can go as well. :eyes:

[Conservativesux]

20. Take the tampon and valtrex ads with them as well!!

Some things should be kept off of TV, just like cigarette ads are.

[kittykitty]

23. And the ever popular, "for erections lasting more than 4 hours"!

[leftchick]

26. did you see the tampon ad ....

Where they plug a hole in a boat with a gal's tampon to show how absorbant they are? :grr:

[benddem]

32. I agree

I keep wondering what mothers with kids do. Can't imagine explaining erectile disfunction to a 4 year old. Those commercials are worse than anything the fundies complain about. Wonder why they don't???

[magnussun]

14. Sex has become depersonalized

"this country sort of preoccupied with sex? Sex and death, as Woody Allen used to say."

Is this the guy who started doinking his girlfriend's young daughter?

"It's way worse than it was when I was growing up. And it is the same generation (baby boomers) demanding it be constantly discussed.

I started to say "I'm not a prude," but I think maybe I am compared to most Americans."

That doesn't make you a "prude." It makes you a person who thinks for herself instead of being morally influenced by the idiot box. Some things should be kept personal and private. All this sex talk makes it easier to be sexually harassed, and encourages women to be just as perverted as men.

Just the other day, a "conservative" friend of my roomate came over. Soaptalk with Lisa Rinna was on. A guest came out and gave her a hug.
He said "right on man, cop a feel." I about flipped out and told him that the next man who tried to squeeze my boobs into his chest under the guise of a "hug" will find my foot in his groin. For that matter, so will the next one who tries to rub his penis against my backside by "showing me" from behind how to fire a weapon. The last one who did that was hitting his target 2 of 10 times, me 9 of 10. When he tried to cop a feel, I moved forward and said "I should be showing you how to shoot."

M

[magnussun]

11. Penis commercials must go!

To all you atheists, this is proof there is a God.

M

[leesa]

15. Is the FDA shaking down pharmaceutical companies for cash?

Or are they accepting cash to go after competitor's companies?

[Catchawave]

16. I wish they'd take all pharmaceutical ads off the air....

I think their ad budget is like 2 billion a year, which I think can be better spent on research. Or at the very least, affordable medications!

I hope doctors feel the same way.

[Junkdrawer]

21. Praise Jesus! There is a God - my prayer has been answered,,,

God, I hated that commercial...

[kittykitty]

22. I couldn't stand that coy, shy, supposed MAN she was trying to seduce!

What a stupid ad--very offensive. He was such a little wimp.

[skygazer]

24. Well, thank goodness!

That smug bitch drives me nuts. "Wanna know a secret?" What secret? You're blabbing about the fact that your "guy" can't get it up on national television! Nothing secret about that!

[Rex]

25. I was wondering when they would get to this stuff I mean

shit...a 4 hour stiffy? WTF is wrong with this country?

HI, this is BOB, say hi BOB! Bob has a smile because his willy can drive metalspikes through 4 inch concrete for hours! No wait, Bob has a smile because he's gone insane! Smile you crazy fucker!

[Junkdrawer]

27. ROTFLOL...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[MADem]

29. I can remember when teens would turn beet red

...when the dancing brassiere came on the TV!!!

Times sure have changed.

I hate ads for pharmaceutical drugs of ANY type. Everything is consumerized, nowadays, even your health.

[Geo55]

30. One "side effect" they didn't mention,

[MadisonProgressive]

31. Yes, she was hot! Nothing wrong with that commercial.