Pfizer is unveiling a new program that will let people who have lost their jobs and health insurance keep taking some of its medications—including Lipitor and Viagra—for free for up to a year. The world’s biggest drugmaker will provide more than 70 of its prescription drugs free to Americans who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on the drug for 3 months or more.
The announcement comes amid massive job losses caused by the recession and a campaign in Washington to rein in health-care costs and extend coverage. The move could earn Pfizer some goodwill in that debate after long being a target of critics of industry prices and sales practices. The program also likely will help keep those patients loyal to Pfizer brands. (More Pfizer stories.)