Marketing Overdose: Secrets Revealed

Though, I generally don't write about any industry specific news (though from now on I will), but this one shook me. Pharmaceutical companies spend about US $60 billion every year marketing drugs which is about twice the amount spend on research & development (R&D).

Yet we know next to nothing about where this money is going.

To expose where pharma companies spend this money, how it increases drugs sales, and why this irresponsible behaviour is putting consumer health at risk, Consumers International has produced a series of short films for the Marketing Overdose campaign.

To tell you the truth, I understood only 3 ways (though there can be many as such) by which they are maximizing profits:

• Doctors working as active word-of-mouth agents since customers believe that doctors are only concerned of their health.
• Through "Disease awareness campaigns" which is also helping them to by-pass certain rules and regulations of advertising and promotion.
• By means of direct to consumer promotion like above video.

Check this page for further clarifications.