BRIEF: Pfizer will pay Oregon $1 million, run new ads over misleading ad complaints 

BRIEF: Pfizer will pay Oregon 1 million, run new ads over misleading ad complaints

Dec 20, 2012 (Menafn - The Oregonian - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --Pfizer, inc. will pay 1 million to Oregon and run advertising nationally to correct prior ad campaigns that allegedly mispresented risks and benefits of products.

The new settlement, filed in Marion County Circuit Court, concerns ads for EpiPen, the company's injectable form of epinephrine, and Zmax, an antiobiotic.

In May, the federal Food and Drug administration issued a warning letter saying an ad called "Max's Birthday Party" had downplayed the "serious risks" of EpiPen. The ad was issued by a firm called Mylan Specialty, L.P. on behalf of Pfizer. The FDA called for corrective advertising.

In June the FDA issued a similar warning over an ad for Zmax, known also as zithromax.

Pfizer agreed to the Oregon settlement after the state Department of Justice accused it of violating previous agreements with the state, in which the company agreed to not make misleading claims.

In the last 12 months, the state has recovered more than 16.5 million in consumer protection settlements from drug and medical product companies.

-- Nick Budnick

___ (c)2012 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)
at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

Copyright (C) 2012, The Oregonian, Portland, Ore.