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KEYCODE BAYER #187

May 17, 2005 Brandweek.com

Bayer Stopping Ads For Aleve

NEW YORK -- Bayer Healthcare has agreed to stop all advertising for OTC analgesic Aleve that carries the tagline "Prescription strength relief without a prescription."

The decision came following a recommendation by the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The NAD had reviewed the ads after a complaint about them was brought by rival Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. Bayer spent $55.3 million on ads for Aleve last year, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus. BBDO, Chicago, is the lead agency.

"Bayer Healthcare's evidence was insufficient to provide a reasonable basis for its performance claim," the NAD said in a statement on Monday. The NAD also said that Bayer had told the NAD, "Although [it] disagrees with NAD's conclusion, it will immediately cease distribution of all advertising and promotional pieces bearing the claim 'Prescription strength relief without a prescription.'"

Advertising is constantly reviewed and modified by the NAD. This decision is an unusual one, however, because it affects an entire campaign for an entire brand. Usually, the NAD asks marketers to change only a small detail of the campaign. Also, marketers often have already withdrawn an ad by the time the NAD makes its ruling. In this case, the NAD indicated that the ads are still airing and will have to be pulled.
Executives at Bayer and Wyeth both declined to comment immediately. (Jim Edwards)