Sometimes the best form of attack is defence. And that was certainly the case for Pfizer’s brave, innovative and hugely successful launch of Avigra into the local market to combat the effects of generic knock-offs.
Browsing: Avigra
The profitability of Big Pharma’s brands can collapse suddenly when patents expire and generic ‘knock offs’ flood the market. When this happens, the accepted norm is for up to 90 percent of an originator brand’s volume and share to be lost almost overnight and it’s an issue the industry hasn’t yet been able to resolve, so, typically, blockbuster compounds and their brands are simply written off or retired. But the local Pfizer branch wasn’t going to take the early patent expiry of Viagra in New Zealand lying down, so to speak, so it took the very unusual step of launching its own generic brand called Avigra and trying to migrate consumers to the cheaper, Pfizer-made alternative. And now, after a pun-laden press campaign and a bit of TV masthead activity, it’s stiffened its resolve by creating a new TVC.
Coinciding with a few new business wins, recent recognition at the Pharmacy Awards and the promotion of Robin Powell to creative director, BCG2 has expanded its creative department with four new arrivals: Alex Dyer, Anita Young, Matthias May and Matt Watts.
Yeah yeah, we know it’s a bit late, but we love a sexy pun, so in case you missed the two full page newspaper ads BCG2 that ran over the last two weeks for Pfizer’s new ‘little blue pill’ called Avigra, here they are.
‘International indie’ bcg2 has picked up an account double, and they’re at opposite ends of the ad spectrum: the Tongan tourism business and Pfizer’s Avigra from Viagra incumbents M&C Saatchi.