Free Lipitor, Viagra, other drugs for jobless
By LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer Linda A. Johnson, Ap Business
Writer Thu May 14, 10:29 am ET

TRENTON, N.J. – Pfizer Inc. says it will provide 70 of its most widely
prescribed prescription drugs — including Lipitor and Viagra — for free
to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.

The world's biggest drugmaker said Thursday it will give away the
medicines for up to a year to Americans who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and
have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.

The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession
and a campaign in Washington to rein in health care costs and extend
coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after
long being a target of critics of drug industry prices and sales practices.

The program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer
brands.

"Everybody knows now a neighbor, a relative who has lost their job and
is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there," Dr.
Jorge Puente, Pfizer's head of pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. and
Europe and a champion of the project, told The Associated Press in an
exclusive interview Wednesday. "Our aim is to help people bridge this
point."

The idea for the program came just five weeks ago, at a leadership
training meeting, as the workers discussed how many patients are
struggling, Puente said.

He said he urged top management to approve the program, presenting a
recent Associated Press article about how newly uninsured diabetics are
suffering serious complications because they can no longer afford the
medicines and testing supplies. Approval came quickly.

"It was my idea," he said. "I floated it, and the reception it got was
so dramatic that it very quickly became our idea."

Colleagues suggested employees could donate to a fund to help support
the effort, Puente said. He said some employees had tears in their eyes
when discussing how they could help people who had lost jobs.

Officials for New York-based Pfizer said they don't know how much the
program will cost and haven't put a cap on spending for it.

Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering
financial hardship and provide a "pink slip" or similar employer notice.
Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided
for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured
again.

Starting Thursday, patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400,
to sign up, and those whose drugs are not included in the program will
be referred to other company aid programs. Starting July 1, patients can
also apply through the Web site, http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com,
which has information about the other Pfizer aid programs.

Pfizer and the rest of the drug industry are trying to have a voice in
the debate over how to overhaul the U.S. health care system, partly by
joining in a pledge this week to help hold down inflation of health costs.

"There's a long-term benefit there, beyond the goodwill and the
publicity," said David Heupel, health care portfolio manager at Thrivent
Large Cap Growth Fund. "Pfizer is trying to maintain their (market)
share, if not grow their share" by keeping people from switching to
generic versions of its drugs to save money.

"If you're already taking medication that's working, typically doctors
don't push to change it," Heupel said.

Pfizer's program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer,
have been raising prices on their drugs, partly to offset declines in
revenue as the global recession reduces the number of prescriptions
people can afford to fill.

The 70-plus drugs covered in the program include several diabetes drugs
and some of Pfizer's top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor
and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for
impotence. Drugs from several other popular classes such as antibiotics,
antidepressants, antifungal treatments, heart mediations, contraceptives
and smoking cessation products also are included. Cheaper generic
versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.

Pfizer said that from 2004 through 2008, its patient assistance programs
helped 5.1 million people get 51 million Pfizer prescriptions for free
or at reduced cost, with a total value of $4.8 billion.

HK wrote:
Free Lipitor, Viagra, other drugs for jobless
By LINDA A. JOHNSON, AP Business Writer Linda A. Johnson, Ap Business
Writer Thu May 14, 10:29 am ET

TRENTON, N.J. – Pfizer Inc. says it will provide 70 of its most widely
prescribed prescription drugs — including Lipitor and Viagra — for free
to people who have lost their jobs and health insurance.

The world's biggest drugmaker said Thursday it will give away the
medicines for up to a year to Americans who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and
have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.

The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession
and a campaign in Washington to rein in health care costs and extend
coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after
long being a target of critics of drug industry prices and sales practices.

The program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer
brands.

"Everybody knows now a neighbor, a relative who has lost their job and
is losing their insurance. People are definitely hurting out there," Dr.
Jorge Puente, Pfizer's head of pharmaceuticals outside the U.S. and
Europe and a champion of the project, told The Associated Press in an
exclusive interview Wednesday. "Our aim is to help people bridge this
point."

The idea for the program came just five weeks ago, at a leadership
training meeting, as the workers discussed how many patients are
struggling, Puente said.

He said he urged top management to approve the program, presenting a
recent Associated Press article about how newly uninsured diabetics are
suffering serious complications because they can no longer afford the
medicines and testing supplies. Approval came quickly.

"It was my idea," he said. "I floated it, and the reception it got was
so dramatic that it very quickly became our idea."

Colleagues suggested employees could donate to a fund to help support
the effort, Puente said. He said some employees had tears in their eyes
when discussing how they could help people who had lost jobs.

Officials for New York-based Pfizer said they don't know how much the
program will cost and haven't put a cap on spending for it.

Applicants will have to sign a statement that they are suffering
financial hardship and provide a "pink slip" or similar employer notice.
Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31, with medication provided
for up to 12 months after approval — or until the person becomes insured
again.

Starting Thursday, patients can call a toll-free number, 866-706-2400,
to sign up, and those whose drugs are not included in the program will
be referred to other company aid programs. Starting July 1, patients can
also apply through the Web site, http://www.PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com,
which has information about the other Pfizer aid programs.

Pfizer and the rest of the drug industry are trying to have a voice in
the debate over how to overhaul the U.S. health care system, partly by
joining in a pledge this week to help hold down inflation of health costs.

"There's a long-term benefit there, beyond the goodwill and the
publicity," said David Heupel, health care portfolio manager at Thrivent
Large Cap Growth Fund. "Pfizer is trying to maintain their (market)
share, if not grow their share" by keeping people from switching to
generic versions of its drugs to save money.

"If you're already taking medication that's working, typically doctors
don't push to change it," Heupel said.

Pfizer's program comes at a time when many drugmakers, including Pfizer,
have been raising prices on their drugs, partly to offset declines in
revenue as the global recession reduces the number of prescriptions
people can afford to fill.

The 70-plus drugs covered in the program include several diabetes drugs
and some of Pfizer's top money makers, from cholesterol fighter Lipitor
and painkiller Celebrex to fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica and Viagra for
impotence. Drugs from several other popular classes such as antibiotics,
antidepressants, antifungal treatments, heart mediations, contraceptives
and smoking cessation products also are included. Cheaper generic
versions are available for quite a few of the drugs.

Pfizer said that from 2004 through 2008, its patient assistance programs
helped 5.1 million people get 51 million Pfizer prescriptions for free
or at reduced cost, with a total value of $4.8 billion.

There you go. A little ray of sunshine in your life. Enjoy.