The administration calls for increased transparency and a more aggressive enforcement of rules against pharmaceutical companies.
President Donald J. Trump issued a memorandum on Tuesday, directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to take action against what he called “misleading” direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements.
The move is aimed at ensuring these ads provide “fair, balanced, and complete information” to the public.
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The memorandum states that since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given the authority to regulate drug advertising in 1962, the agency’s requirements have allowed for less information to be included in broadcast advertising.
According to the document, this has enabled drug companies to prioritize expensive drugs over cheaper generics and inappropriately influence the doctor-patient relationship.
The President’s directive orders the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA to take steps to increase the amount of risk information required in advertisements and to enforce the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
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A senior administration official told reporters that the FDA would be sending thousands of warning letters and approximately 100 cease-and-desist letters to pharmaceutical companies with deceptive ads, with a particular focus on ads on digital and social media platforms. The official also mentioned that enforcement of these rules had become “extremely lax,” with no letters sent out in 2024.
This action is part of a broader push by the administration to reform the pharmaceutical industry and lower drug costs for Americans. It follows other actions, including a recent effort to compel pharmaceutical companies to offer Americans the same drug prices available in other developed nations.
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