Pfizer's Viagra, VW Beetle Named Best Products by USA Today
New York, Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- The Viagra impotency drug from Pfizer Inc., the fourth-largest U.S. drugmaker, and the new Beetle car from Volkswagen AG, Germany's largest carmaker, were named ''products of the year'' by USA Today for their customer appeal, slick advertising and potential to boost profits. Though sales of Viagra aren't expected to reach the $1 billion annually forecast by Pfizer and an advertising campaign featuring former U.S. senator and presidential contender Bob Dole might not substantially increase sales, ''it's hard to deny Viagra's effect on society,'' the newspaper said. Internet companies eBay Inc., an online auctioneer, and No. 1 online bookseller Amazon.com Inc. were named stocks of the year for increasing 1,300 percent and 966 percent, respectively, in value this year, USA Today said.
Pfizer was named the ''Company of the Year'' by Forbes magazine because it focuses on research and development of drugs that could boost revenue by as much as $10 billion over the next five years.
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