This is true. It is insane that the US allows pharmaceutical ads, one of the 3 countries in the world that allows this bullshit: The US, New Zealand and Brazil. If you had cancer do you want to try the most effective or the most promoted drug? For American readers you should considered the indiscriminate interweaving of health and money a human rights violation. Canadian medicines are cheaper as we have a national protective agency to reduce the excessive costs of drugs - the PMPRB (Patented Medicine Prices Review Board). I work in new drug development and I implore you to question those ads. Generics are often available for patients, but pharmacists must follow the prescription. Name brands are unnecessary unless it is a patented drug. Pharma companies push for profit. Your medication use is a commodity for pharma companies.