- Noreen O'Leary

NEW YORK Several agencies made creative presentations here at Pfizer's headquarters last week in a review for Viagra's creative chores, sources said.

The incumbent, Interpublic's McCann Erickson here, was among those in the mix.

It was not immediately clear how many agencies are participating in the review, and other contenders could not immediately be identified.
 
A company rep confirmed that the pharmaceutical giant is reviewing but declined to disclose any additional information. McCann, which has handled the business since 2004, declined to comment.
 
When McCann won the account five years ago, Omnicom Group's Merkley + Partners in New York was the other finalist.
 
The male impotence drug has become one of the world's most recognized pharmaceutical brands since its launch in April 1998. Last year, Pfizer spent $123 million on measured media for Viagra, and $66 million during the first seven months of 2009.

Pfizer said that U.S. sales of Viagra rose 11 percent in the first six months of the year, while global sales dropped 5 percent.
 
As Congress has increasingly focused on direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising this year, erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra have attracted attention from lawmakers who don't want TV ads to air between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Rep. James P. Moran, (D-Va.) sponsored a House bill that would ban prime-time ads for prescription sexual aids like Viagra, citing decency grounds.