Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Robert Jarvik, the inventor of an artificial heart, was paid $1.3 million over two years for his role in a television commercial for Pfizer Inc.'s cholesterol drug Lipitor.

Jarvik defended his role in the commercial, canceled by Pfizer after a congressional committee raised questions about his credentials, in a statement today. Jarvik, 61, said he is qualified to tout Lipitor because of his 30-year career developing artificial hearts.

In the ad, Jarvik appears to be rowing a boat through a mountainous lake and telling viewers about Lipitor's ability to prevent heart attacks. He said he has a medical degree though isn't a licensed physician because he didn't take a required medical internship. Jarvik also said a stunt double of him is rowing in one of the Lipitor ads for insurance purposes. Pfizer pulled the ads yesterday saying they had been misinterpreted.

``I have been sincere and honest in my role as Lipitor spokesman,'' Jarvik said today. ``As an MD medical scientist I am well qualified to understand the conclusions of the extensive clinical trials and FDA review by which Lipitor was proven safe and effective.

Pfizer spent as much as $139 million on the Jarvik ad campaign, making it the fifth most advertised drug on television through October, according to market research firm Nielsen Monitor Plus. Jarvik's payment for the commercials was confirmed by his spokesman Gary Lewi.

Doctor, Expert

``I am in fact a medical doctor; I am a world expert in mechanical heart technology; and I am an athletically fit man who takes care of his own health through diet and exercise, including frequent five mile runs,'' Jarvik said.

Jarvik said he didn't row the boat in the commercial himself because he could have drowned within minutes from hypothermia if he had fallen into the 40 degree water. He said he spent time rowing during summer vacations in high school and trained to row for the commercial shoot.

``It never occurred to me that anyone would consider this dishonest,'' Jarvik said.

Congressmen John Dingell and Bark Stupak, Michigan democrats, said in January they were requesting information from Pfizer and Jarvik about the ads, which they said appeared to be misleading.

``I commend Pfizer for doing the right thing and pulling the Lipitor ads featuring Dr. Jarvik,'' Stupak said in a statement yesterday. ``When consumers see and hear a doctor endorsing medication, they expect the doctor is a credible individual with requisite knowledge of the drug.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in New York at spettypiece@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 26, 2008 17:50 EST