In the Vioxx cases "targeting" of physicians was a big issue. The hard sell was on for a medication with little to commend it - and experience would prove - much to fear from it. The high-priced patented prescription medication competed principally with the generic naproxen - sold as Aleve. Merck's sales staff was armed with information from pharmacy benefit providers about what medicines the doctors prescribed.
Three states have limited the practice. The Supreme Court will soon hear the case - Sorrell v. IMS Health, Inc. I don't know that it is an invasion of privacy. But I do think it is part of a hard sell that presents risks that doctors will respond to the blandishments and the pressure, rather than the data about the drug's risks and effectiveness.
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