Merck and Schering-Plough's PR Costs Patients

Upset at the negative publicity of their blockbuster Vytorin, Merck and Schering-Plough are piling on additonal costs to patients by purchasing ads in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Star-Ledger of Newark, New Jersey to defend their drug. In some cases these are full-page advertisements.

No doubt they're using their money earned from the delayed reporting of the ENHANCE trial.

How much does a full page ad in the New York Times cost? Well, one report pegs it at mere $65,000. But if a full page ad appears in the Wall Street Journal, it sets 'em back between $96,900 and $210,300.

"We plan to continue this campaign to provide appropriate balance and perspective to patients and, if they believe they have the need, to encourage them to talk to their doctors about their treatment," Davies said in an e-mail.

Hey, it's okay. It's just PR.

And once again, a lot of patients' money is being spent just for marketing.

-Wes