Ad watchdog slaps Novartis for Theraflu cold-fighting claim

Novartis ($NVS) claims its Theraflu Multi-Symptom Severe Cold "starts to get to work in your body in 5 minutes" after taking it. But Pfizer ($PFE), which sells its own range of cold-fighters, has an issue with that--and so does National Advertising Division (NAD). Pfizer challenged the Swiss pharma, arguing that the product's active ingredients are standard in OTC severe cold remedies and don't provide relief especially quickly in Theraflu's version. And the NAD agreed, recommending the Basel-based drugmaker cut the "5 minutes" claim. More