First, You Have to Have a Product

Number one rule in marketing is that you must have a product. The drug makers of Vytorin and Zetia, spent $102 million and $83 million, respectively to market them (TNS Media Intelligence). The TV campaign, from Omnicom Group's DDB Worldwide, features ads which are among most-recalled by viewers (IAG Research).

There are two sources of cholesterol: food and family

Do you remember seeing these advertisements on TV? Probably one of the most effective advertising campaigns of the year was short-circuited by the failure of the product to back up the claims made. A study, conducted in 2006, but not released until last week, revealed that Vytorin, a combination of Zetia and Zocor, DID NOT reduce buildup of fatty plaque in arteries.

Drug Makers Yank Vytorin TV Ads - Advertising Age - News

Merck & Co. and Schering-Plough Corp. have yanked the popular "two sources" TV advertising campaign for cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin.

Tags: product claims, mispent marketing, most recalled ads