Author Archive | Bob Ehrlich

FDA Studies Corrective Ads ?Corrective ads are a serious issue for drug companies.? -Bob Ehrlich The FDA will be doing a study on the effect of corrective advertising on consumer perception of brands. The FDA rarely uses the penalty but has it in its power to force drug companies to runs ads telling consumers that […]

The Health Care Bubble? ?Mr. Ponzi would be proud of our scheme.? -Bob Ehrlich The fiscal cliff debate brought up some critical issues that are much more important than the tax rate argument. We cannot afford the spending path we are on. It is that simple. Someone will get less in the future. For Medicare, […]

Sales of New Obesity Drug a Bit Skinny ?I recommend Vivus start work on DTC sooner than later.? -Bob Ehrlich Vivus, maker of weight loss drug Qsymia, has take a big hit on its stock price based on early sales results. Analysts expected a lot more success. Vivus says it is making good headway and […]

The Long Television Ad ?I have to wonder?if a two minute drug ad is just too long…? -Bob Ehrlich I saw a Xarelto commercial on CNN recently. It was the first time I had seen it and I assume the campaign just started for the blood-thinning drug made by Jannsen. The length was two minutes. […]

Election’s Over, Time to Move On ?Drug companies will do just fine long term.? -Bob Ehrlich After two years of campaigning, we have status quo in our government mix. Not much has changed from November 5th. That does not mean the election does not have major implications for the drug industry. Despite being the law […]

My Celebrity Did What? ?The Lance debacle is illustrative of celebrity risks.? -Bob Ehrlich Barry Bonds. Mark McGwire. Roger Clemens. Michael Vick. Tiger Woods. One day they are favorites of America, and the next they are disgraced. Their endorsements disintegrate faster than Usain Bolt runs the 100. They become butts of Jay Leno?s jokes. The […]

Is Hispanic Advertising Important? ? I am making a case…to consider Hispanic marketing.? -Bob Ehrlich This is a recurring question when every brand manager develops their media plan. Of course brand managers recognize the growth in Hispanics in the United States. The 2010 census shows 43% growth in Hispanics from 2000, mostly from Mexican immigration. […]

Fluzone and The Fuzzy Animal ?A critter with a necktie is memorable.? -Bob Ehrlich I am not quite sure what that cute little animal is in the Fluzone ad. Is he a hedgehog, porcupine or some new species of spiny large rodent? Whatever he is, Fluzone has gone for a rather unorthodox creative treatment for […]

The Ethics of Drug Coupons ?Coupons are ethical.? -Bob Ehrlich According to an article in The Washington Post written along with Kaiser Family News, coupons for branded drugs have risen sharply from 86 drugs in 2009 to 395 in 2012. This explosion of coupons is done for a variety of reasons. For drugs going off […]

Following Those Wings ?Few brands have established a visual reminder as well as Lunesta.? -Bob Ehrlich The famous moth is back. Sunovion?s Lunesta moth is floating again on a television screen near you. What is intriguing is the 15 second reminder corporate ad. The ad is unusual in that it is all about the moth; […]