Feb. 2: The news for Pfizer's Chantix was not good today. The US FDA says the smoking cessation drug likely causes some users to have suicidal urges, and warnings might be necessary for the product.
Ah, the implications. Let me first say that I had Chantix prescribed for me, paid the $165 first month's cost and consumed the entire prescribed number of pills. Every morning, the pill hit my stomach like a red-hot poker, causing pain for about two hours. Then came daily nausea. But I persisted. As for nicotine cravings ... I experienced no easing. Nothing at all. But willpower alone -- and resumption of pipe smoking -- has kept me off cigarettes for 200 days as of today, ever since I began Chantix (please don't call me a successful Chantix user!).
Now I'll let you connect some dots.
Last year, Johnson & Johnson paid $16.6-billion to buy Pfizer's consumer healthcare unit. At that time, this was written on a financial web site: "Pfizers products will give Johnson & Johnson the lead in several new categories, including mouthwash and smoking cessation." Also: "The move would add several well-known brand names to J&J's lineup, including Listerine, Nicorette, Visine, Sudafed and Neosporin."
Pfizer produces Chantix, and the cost to purchase Pfizer's prescription division would be astronomical. But what would happen if that cost could be decreased by making the stock less valuable? And the way to do that is to scandalize or damage a big moneymaker, Chantix. That's what the FDA just did. Smokers wanting to quit will have second thoughts about seeking a drug that might cause disturbances so severe that suicide seems desirable. Pfizer profits will take a hit. The company's value as a purchase target will decline.
And smokers will move to NRT products (which the US government actually promotes on federal Web sites with our taxpayer dollars) that will keep them addicted and buying drugs for the remainder of their life.
J&J must be smiling. But that's the way the game is played. Follow the money. It's all about money and this smoking cessation game is like Monopoly played by high rollers only.
I expect more bad news about Chantix in days to come. You can sense the money moving on the table as the dice roll.
Ah, the implications. Let me first say that I had Chantix prescribed for me, paid the $165 first month's cost and consumed the entire prescribed number of pills. Every morning, the pill hit my stomach like a red-hot poker, causing pain for about two hours. Then came daily nausea. But I persisted. As for nicotine cravings ... I experienced no easing. Nothing at all. But willpower alone -- and resumption of pipe smoking -- has kept me off cigarettes for 200 days as of today, ever since I began Chantix (please don't call me a successful Chantix user!).
Now I'll let you connect some dots.
Last year, Johnson & Johnson paid $16.6-billion to buy Pfizer's consumer healthcare unit. At that time, this was written on a financial web site: "Pfizers products will give Johnson & Johnson the lead in several new categories, including mouthwash and smoking cessation." Also: "The move would add several well-known brand names to J&J's lineup, including Listerine, Nicorette, Visine, Sudafed and Neosporin."
Pfizer produces Chantix, and the cost to purchase Pfizer's prescription division would be astronomical. But what would happen if that cost could be decreased by making the stock less valuable? And the way to do that is to scandalize or damage a big moneymaker, Chantix. That's what the FDA just did. Smokers wanting to quit will have second thoughts about seeking a drug that might cause disturbances so severe that suicide seems desirable. Pfizer profits will take a hit. The company's value as a purchase target will decline.
And smokers will move to NRT products (which the US government actually promotes on federal Web sites with our taxpayer dollars) that will keep them addicted and buying drugs for the remainder of their life.
J&J must be smiling. But that's the way the game is played. Follow the money. It's all about money and this smoking cessation game is like Monopoly played by high rollers only.
I expect more bad news about Chantix in days to come. You can sense the money moving on the table as the dice roll.
