MERCK PRINIVIL RIPKEN ADS NEED STRONGER DISCLAIMER, FDA TELLS COMPANY; GEMZAR PROMOTIONS, CLARITIN 1-800 LINE, ULTANE JOURNAL ADS RUN AFOUL OF FDA

Merck's print advertisements for the antihypertensive Prinivil using Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. should feature a more prominent disclaimer emphasizing that Ripken is not endorsing the product. "The disclaimer that Mr. Ripken is not hypertensive and does not take Prinivil lacks significant prominence and does not balance or clarify the misrepresentation of the product endorsement," DDMAC states.