Pfizer brings Lipitor marketing campaign to Walgreens Chicago flagship store

CHICAGO — Drug maker Pfizer is taking a marketing campaign for one of its drugs to Walgreens' Chicago flagship store to raise awareness about high cholesterol and healthy eating, the company said Monday.

Pfizer said it would bring "MasterChef" judge and restaurant owner Joe Bastianich to the store to demonstrate healthy, low-cholesterol cooking using ingredients off the store's shelves. The event, which takes place Monday afternoon, is part of the drug maker's "Heart to Health" marketing campaign, which it launched in November 2011 with Bastianich to promote Lipitor (atorvastatin). Lipitor lost patent protection that month, and Ranbaxy Labs now markets a generic version of the drug, which had sales of $7.7 billion in 2011.

"As we transform from a traditional drug store to a destination for health and daily living, we recognize that a quick errand to pick up a prescription or a health and beauty item can also be an opportunity to focus on one's overall health," Walgreens pharmacist manager Nancy Salman said. "Joe is bringing our flagship store's new culinary offerings to life, showing our shoppers that they can cook up a quick, delicious and healthy meal with fresh ingredients picked up on the way home."

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