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Celebs Bring Extra Scrutiny To Advertisements, US FDA Tells AbbVie

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

AbbVie’s migraine ad overstates the drug’s benefit, a problem that is amplified by using a celebrity, the agency says. 

tennis player Serena Williams
Serena Williams likely helped draw additional FDA attention to AbbVie's Ubrelvy TV ad. • Source: Shutterstock/Dorothy Hong

The increased risks of using a celebrity for drug promotion emerged in a new US Food and Drug Administration advertising and promotion untitled letter for AbbVie Inc.’s migraine drug Ubrelvy.

Key Takeaways

  • AbbVie’s Ubrelvy ad misleadingly overstates how fast its migraine drug provides relief, the FDA said.

Celebrities both increase exposure to advertisements and increase the likelihood an audience believes the claims made, thus putting a bigger...

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