Honest Ads Season 3 Episode 8 If Drug Companies Were Honest
- TV-14
- September 5, 2016
- 3 min
If Drug Companies Were Honest is the eighth episode of the third season of Honest Ads. This satirical series takes a hilarious yet honest approach to advertising by parodying the world of marketing and branding.
In this episode, the Honest Ads team takes on the pharmaceutical industry and the business of selling drugs. They use their unique brand of humor to expose the tactics used by drug companies to sell their products, as well as the absurdity of some of the marketing claims made by these companies.
The episode starts with a parody of a typical drug commercial, complete with the calming voiceover, upbeat music, and happy people walking on the beach. However, the ad quickly takes a turn as the Honest Ads team begins to point out the laundry list of side effects that can come with the medication. They highlight how drug companies use vague language to downplay the severity of these side effects, and how they only need to disclose them because of legal requirements.
Next, the Honest Ads team takes aim at the high cost of prescription drugs. They mock the fact that drug companies will charge exorbitant prices for their products, even if the drug has been on the market for years. They also call out the practice of "evergreening," where drug companies will slightly alter a drug's formula and then patent it all over again, allowing them to keep charging high prices.
The episode also delves into the way drug companies market their drugs to doctors and healthcare professionals. The team pokes fun at the fact that drug companies will often sponsor medical conferences or provide doctors with free meals, in exchange for them prescribing their drugs to patients. They highlight the fact that this can lead to doctors prescribing medication that may not be the best option for their patients, simply because they have been influenced by the business tactics of drug companies.
Overall, If Drug Companies Were Honest is a hilarious yet thought-provoking episode of Honest Ads. By shining a light on the tactics used by drug companies to sell their products, it encourages viewers to think critically about the way they approach their own healthcare and the role that advertising plays in the industry.