AbbVie’s Serena Williams Migraine Ad Is Misleading, FDA Warns

AbbVie Inc.’s TV advertisements featuring tennis legend Serena Williams make misleading claims about the effectiveness of its migraine headache medication, according to US regulators.

AbbVie’s TV spots say that all patients who take the drug, called Ubrelvy, can expect their migraine pain to be eliminated after a single dose, and that one dose works fast against migraines. None of these claims have been demonstrated in clinical trials, the FDA said in a warning letter dated Aug. 29.

“These violations are concerning from a public health perspective,” the FDA wrote, adding that “the use of a celebrity athlete in this ...