HIV meds advertisement

[Almost2late]

While watching TV, it occurred to me that there are no commercials for HIV meds on television.. There's commercials for all kinds of medications but not HIV.. I remember when the first Viagra ad aired, how shocked most people were and now it's pretty normal, no big deal.

Now if a bunch of ads began airing on TV, this may lower stigma associated with the disease, I think if done thoughtfully.. And there's enough HIV meds out now to keep the market competitive.

Ads on HIV meds to the general public via TV would not only destigmatize HIV poz folks but educate the public on transmission, prevention and treatment.. you know like you can't catch it from a kiss or sharing a bottle of tequila.

I recently saw an ad for a medication for woman who experience pain during sex due to menopause.. The commercial was tastefully done and educated me on something I didn't know about.. plus the ladies look pretty hot 

http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7fjC/osphena

[leatherman]

I was trying to explain to a friend/fellow advocate of mine here in SC about why there are so few places to get HIV treatment and why people living in the rural parts of the counties have to travel so far for treatment. It's because, counting the HIV+ people and an estimated extra 25% who have not been tested or diagnosed, there are only 1.5 million or so HIV positive people in America. That's not even 1/2 of 1% of the total population. Being realistic there just aren't that many doctors and clinics needed to treat those few people. (that's another reason, besides politics and funding, to check out access to health care before moving. If there's only a couple poz people in an area, there might not be any local HIV health care.)

in the same way, why should the Pharma companies waste advertising dollars on TV which reaches all 308 million citizens for less than 2 million potential customers? Since clinics and doctors are pushing more to medicate 100% of their patients (guaranteed sales for the Pharma corps), and since many patients have access to HIV literature at their clinics, dollars are then better spent just advertising in industry magazines.

frankly I don't even know why they spend that little bit of money. Most people use the regimen recommended by their doctor or based on their genotype test results. I know that I've never looked at an ad of those probably HIV- people mountain climbing and thought I should ask my doctor about switching to that med. LOL

what is actually a more salient question is why aren't there more commercials for PrEP, condoms, and HIV prevention messages on TV? These years, the mainstream media only talks about HIV the day after World AIDS Day and there are basically no prevention commercials at all. (there is one I know of which features young black MSM in a nightclub. It's a locally produced ad that plays on Charlotte television usually after 2:00am on sat night - if it plays at all.)

[Almost2late]

Guess I jumped the gun on this one.. Didn't think of numbers  ... but the prep & pep ads could probably fly.. I know they've done the condom adds.

I remember seeing a psa ad this past winter, before my dx, that Broward county was running about being tested which I never saw this before and reading it in the paper how Broward has a serious hiv problem.. Haven't seen that psa since returning from the hospital.. I joke with my wife that the ad was meant for me and no reason to run it anymore since I know my status.

[zach]

reading it in the paper how Broward has a serious hiv problem..

no doubt, i don't exactly know where i picked it up, but am fairly sure it was in collier county

[le_liseur]

I don't know if there are much TV ads for HIV medication here (Quebec), because the only shows I watch are online, but I can tell you I often see publicity for new medications on posters in the subway system, bus stops, etc. and in many public bathrooms (and not only at bars or in the gay village).

Just today, I saw an ad for Tivicay on the screens at a main subway station, where they also dispatch the weather and time and general news/publicity.

The only thing tho is these ads never tell it's for HIV. It's usually pictures of people (healthy-looking), with words such as 'Ask your doctor if it's the right one for you.' The other day, my boyfriend also saw one and was wondering what the pill was for, and he found out online it was for HIV.

[tednlou2]

It's the network ban on condom ads that I don't understand.  They will promote Viagra, beer, and KY-Jelly His and Hers pleasures, but refuse to show condoms ads-- which are likely needed after taking Viagra, using KY Jelly, and a night of drinking.  Comedy Central will show a condom ad now and then.

PrEP is a different story.  We may see that marketed on TV.  But, I think likely on Bravo and networks like that.  I don't see CBS, NBC, and FOX airing those.  MSM still make up the majority of cases, so they aren't going to buy airtime on the network news shows for a med "for the gays."

[randym431]

My thing being satire, I can imagine the disclosure statements at the end of such an ad. Like listing everything concerned with the side effects which in total can't be much worse than the alternative, which would be death.
So I guess an ad could list every nightmare scenario and side effect, and still look like a good deal to the customer.
The number one disclosure being that none of the HIV drugs should be considered a cure for the disease.
Like with the lube ads, which always state not a preventive for the HIV virus.

[mecch]

The disclaimer for PREP should say the drug is great for avoiding HIV but if you have unprotected sex with multiple casual partners, you'll get every other STD known to mankind. 

[wolfter]

Every dollar spent on advertising will simply increase the cost of medications.  At least then we could all complain in the other thread about the continued high cost of meds? 

I put faith in my doctor to know and understand all the dynamics and I surely hope he doesn't need an advertisement to make correct decisions.

I've often wondered why certain products even need to waste money on ads.  Has anyone really ever been persuaded by an add on what to wipe our asses with?

wolfie

[leatherman]

It's the network ban on condom ads that I don't understand.

There's no actual ban. The networks just don't play them often. Trojan commercials play occasionally on network channels. "Trojan Man!" Although I hate the creepy trojan bareskin commercials
http://www.marketmenot.com/trojan-bareskin-condoms-closer-commercial/

I've often wondered why certain products even need to waste money on ads.

I've never understood drug ads for just that reason. For example with HIV meds, has anyone ever read through those 5 page complera ads in poz magazine and then told their doctor that's the med they want, even though the doctor suggested stribild? And if those kinds of ads work, why don't we see ads for Bactrim or maybe a Valtrex (Valacyclovir ) vs Acyclovir ad?

[Miss Philicia]

When Egrifta first came out they ran public advertisements on public transportation/bus shelters here in Philadelphia. A quick google-image search shows them in NYC, San Francisco and Chicago. I found this odd for a drug that is aimed at even less of a population base than for an HIV medication.

But in urban areas this has been done for 15 years, you just don't see it unless you live in a large downtown area.

http://www.salon.com/2001/05/08/drug_ads_2/

[mecch]

It's because, counting the HIV+ people and an estimated extra 25% who have not been tested or diagnosed, there are only 1.5 million or so HIV positive people in America. That's not even 1/2 of 1% of the total population.

In another way of looking at this, that is a HUGE number of consumers.  If there was a commitment to test the population and treat the HIV+ population, pretty much at diagnosis if the patient is ok with it, lets assume we have 1.2 million consumers.

If the US negotiated the annual cost of treatment to an average of 20K, that would be a purchase of 24 billion USD. A year.  Of HIV antivirals. Big market.

So in this way of thinking, we can see why, in the other thread, generics here or there do make a difference, for populations and national expenditures.  Why it does make a difference for a rich country if the year cost is 30K, or 20K or 12K, and so on.

And 24billion would be incentive for advertising... But overall I do agree that who pays attention to such things in making a choice...  But on the other hand, I do like the suggestion that routine advertising of antivirals would have an anti-stigmatising effect.   I don't think many men or the partners they screw are filled with shame about viagra, these days, whereas when it first came out, there was resistance.

Remember, all said and told, HIV is an STD so there's always going to be issues..... God's chosen country. "Amercia." Freedom. Religion-based morality.

[mrtoad]

Who wants it? We do ! When do we want it? Now !  Free medical care and medications for everyone now !

[mecch]

Who wants it? We do ! When do we want it? Now !  Free medical care and medications for everyone now !

Hey blueberry twinklepops and starlight moonbeams  - free to people, paid by whom/what? Pharma makes all drugs for all diseases for all patients around the world for free?  Doctors, nurses, hospitals and labs, are paid with wooden nickels?  Research institutes and universities run on good vibrations? 

Karl Marx or Ayn Rand....     Perhaps the answers lie in-between and require a lot of negotiations... 

[tednlou2]

There's no actual ban. The networks just don't play them often. Trojan commercials play occasionally on network channels. "Trojan Man!" Although I hate the creepy trojan bareskin commercials
http://www.marketmenot.com/trojan-bareskin-condoms-closer-commercial/

There is no FCC ban; I meant the networks making their own ban.  I have never seen a condom ad on the major networks-- NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX.  I have seen them on Comedy Central, MTV, Bravo, etc.  One could argue younger people watch the cable channels more, than they do the major networks.  Besides the "Big Bang Theory," I'm not sure how many teens and young adults are watching CSI, NCIS, and all those murder-porn shows.