Big Pharma & DTC ads - money well spent?

Top ten prescription drugs most heavily advertised to U.S. consumers in 2005:

1. Lunesta (Sepracor Inc.) $227.3 million

2. Nexium (AstraZeneca) $203.5 million

3. Vytorin (Merck/Schering-Plough) $161.5 million

4. Crestor (AstraZeneca) $155.9 million

5. Advair (GlaxoSmithKline) $137.5 million

6. Nasonex (Schering-Plough) $131.8 million

7. Ambien (Sanofi-Aventis SA) $129.8 million

8. Plavix (Sanofi-Aventis SA) $121.4 million

9. Singulair (Merck & Co.) $119.9 million

10. Wellbutrin (GlaxoSmith- Kline) $119.5 million

Note: Includes TV, radio, billboard and print advertising aimed at the public. Does not include amounts spent on marketing to doctors.