Pfizer Inc
From SourceWatch
Pfizer Inc is a multinational pharmaceutical company founded in 1851.
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Pfizer and Celebrex
In November 2004 Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide - a part of the WPP Group - took over the accounts for both of Pfizer's Celebrex and Bextra pain medications.
In December 2004 a report linked high doses of Celebrex, a member of the class of drugs referred to as Cox-2 inhibitors, to an increased risk of heart attacks. The co-managing director of the WPP Group's health and medical practice, Sherry Pudloski, told O'Dwyer's PR Daily that they still had the account but declined to talk about what they did for Pfizer.[1] (http://www.odwyerspr.com/members/1220pfizer.htm)
Pfizer Declares a Ceasefire
In January 2006, PR Week reported that "Pfizer, through its public affairs agency Spectrum Science, hopes to open dialogue about, and ultimately reform, the nation's healthcare system." Spectrum started organizing "Ceasefire on Healthcare" town meetings for Pfizer in June 2005. The idea, according to PR Week, was originally from former U.S. Senator John Breaux. [2] (http://www.prweek.com/us/home/article/535194/pfizers-spectrum-science-encourages-health-policy-debate/)
"The thrust of the campaign ... is to make incremental changes," said Claire Barnard, Spectrum Science Communications' director of public affairs. "I think the public is really yearning for this. I think people are tired of turning on the TV and seeing all the name calling." The "Ceasefire on Healthcare" town meetings are funded by Pfizer and American University, and have featured Senator Hillary Clinton and former Congressman Newt Gingrich. C-Span has covered the events, which have been held at the Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation and National Press Club. [3] (http://www.prweek.com/us/home/article/535194/pfizers-spectrum-science-encourages-health-policy-debate/)
New CEO, New PR Strategy
"In the wake of a CEO change, Pfizer is renaming its corporate affairs practice as public affairs to better reflect the increasing importance of influencing public policy and opinion to the company's success," reported PR Week in August 2006. The change was described as a "larger reorganization of Pfizer's management structure" that included Jeff Kindler's promotion from head of corporate affairs to CEO. [4] (http://www.prweek.com/us/news/article/588967/Public-affairs-Pfizer-focus/)
"Rich Bagger will head Pfizer's new worldwide public affairs and policy division, which previously had been called the corporate affairs division," reported PR Week. In that role, Bagger will oversee "public policy development, government relations, communications, media, philanthropy, and stakeholder advocacy." [5] (http://www.prweek.com/us/news/article/588967/Public-affairs-Pfizer-focus/)
A memo from new CEO Kindler to employees said the changes would help Pfizer make decisions more quickly, an important goal because "patients and their families are using newly available information to take more control over their healthcare decisions." [6] (http://www.prweek.com/us/news/article/588967/Public-affairs-Pfizer-focus/)
Personnel
- Jeff Kindler, CEO
- Hank McKinnell, former CEO
SourceWatch Resources
External links
- "Pfizer still works Ogilvy (http://www.odwyerspr.com/members/1220pfizer.htm)", O'Dwyers PR Daily, December 20, 2004. (Sub req'd)
- "Pfizer pulls COX-2 DTC (http://www.pmlive.com/pharm_market/news.cfm?showArticle=1&ArticleID=3585)", Pharmaceutical Marketing, December 21, 2004.
- Marc Kaufman, "FDA Was Told of Viagra-Blindness Link Months Ago: Senator Criticizes Delay in Alerting Consumers After Safety Officer Warned Agency About Drug (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/30/AR2005063001419.html)", Washington Post, July 1, 2005.
- Marc Kaufman, "FDA Was Told of Viagra-Blindness Link Months Ago: Senator Criticizes Delay in Alerting Consumers After Safety Officer Warned Agency About Drug (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/30/AR2005063001419.html)", Washington Post, July 1, 2005.
- Ian Hall, "Pfizer in major bid to boost community ties (http://www.prweek.com/news/news_worldwire.cfm?ID=240516&site=1)", PR Week, September 02 2005. (sub req'd)
- Beth Herskovits, "Pfizer's Spectrum Science encourages health policy debate (http://www.prweek.com/us/home/article/535194/pfizers-spectrum-science-encourages-health-policy-debate/)," PR Week (sub req'd), January 11, 2006.
- Rick Weiss, "'Serious Misconduct' by NIH Expert Found: Scientist Did Not Report Sending Tissues to Drug Firm and Getting Paid, Report Says (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061301528.html)," Washington Post, June 14, 2006.
- Ted McKenna, "Public affairs is Pfizer focus (http://www.prweek.com/us/news/article/588967/Public-affairs-Pfizer-focus/)," PR Week, August 23, 2006.
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