The AIDs group alleges that Pfizer is marketing Viagra as a 'recreational' sex drug in it's commercials--and intends to sue because such 'recreational sex' may lead to AIDS.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has said that the commercials lead men to act irresponsibly and have unprotected sex--despite the fact that most of the Viagra commercials feature older married couples.
"Pfizer has created and contributed to the perception of Viagra as a safe, sexy, lifestyle, recreational drug, to be frequently used regardless of the degree, or even existence of [Erectile Dysfunction]," said the group.
The lawsuit stems from Viagra's switch from former Pitchman Bob Dole--in his 70s at the time--to a younger mid-forties group. Although it's widely documented that around age 40 hormone levels in men begin to drop at an exponential rate--much like women--the AIDs group wants a return to an elderly pitchman.
They also cited a couple ads such as the 2006 Super Bowl ad that said said something along the lines of "Being an MVP this Sunday [in the bedroom] by calling Viagra today."
However, their claims are totally frivolous (albeit this still has no impact on AIDS):
In 2004, the FDA objected to a television commercial suggesting Viagra could return a man to the "wild thing" of his younger days. The FDA said the ad, showing a man sprouting devilish horns, made an unproven claim that men could regain a youthful level of sexual desire. Pfizer halted that campaign.
I can't help but think that if a man was going to practice safe sex he would with or without the aid of Viagra--the belief that Viagra's commercials are making men go out and have unprotected sex seems very shaky at best.
Pfizer maintains that the user can not simply just get the drug anywhere, they must first obtain a prescription and that they have never said anything about the drug preventing disease in any way, shape or form.
