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Pfizer Battles Counterfeit Drugs With Rats

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Counterfeit drugs are a growing problem online.  Consumers are attracted to these medications because they are less expensive.  However, taking fake drugs can have significant consequences.  In an effort to battle online drug counterfeiting, Pfizer launched a public education campaign on the issue in the United Kingdom.  Designed to shock, the campaign featured a man ingesting a rat (click image below to enlarge).

Man ingesting a rat

Key Activities: 

Pfizer launched a television, print and online campaign in support of the effort.  According to CMD Global, Pfizer's "multi-platform campaign ran with the central image of a rat coming out of a person’s mouth. The ‘regurgitated rat’ campaign was rolled out across TV, cinema and in the press. In order to reach those most likely to be purchasing counterfeit drugs, the online community, Pfizer re-directed users searching under health and medical terms to a dedicated website giving information about illicit drugs."

The campaign's video appears below.

Results: 

To date: 

  • The campaign Website has been visted by more than 50,000 people
  • The public relations campaign has generated  £2 million in impressions value on an initial budget of £300,000
  • 9 million people viewed the campaign advertisments in movie theaters
  • The campaign's PSA has been viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube
Industry: 
Healthcare
Primary Communications Discipline: 
Advertising
Organizations Involved: 
Pfizer, Universal McCann, Red
Campaign Dates: 
January - June 2009
For More Information: