Say No to Nexium! The Purple Pill can cost you a lot of Green.

The marketing campaign for Nexium, otherwise known as the “Purple Pill,” has one of the highest costs in the nation for prescription drugs.  In 2008, it had the 2nd highest gross sales of any brand name drug on the market, weighing in at $4.8 billion.  This is an interesting fact, because in clinical studies its proven no more effective or safer than a handful of other medicines used to treat heartburn and acid reflux, several of which are over the counter. So what gives, why does Nexium command such a large price?  The answer is their marketing campaign.  Astra Zeneca, the maker of Nexium, has been launching an all out attack to suck up market share ever since it hit the market.  They’ve done a good job too, with their sales representatives getting many Physicians on board, and a slough of commercials, … Continue reading →