Sex, Lies & DTC Advertising For Impotence Pills

Several years ago, the drugmakers that sell impotence pills convinced Congress that federal regulations were not required to ensure objectionable ads would not be seen by children. However, a new study charges that industry efforts to regulate direct-to-consumer advertising have been a “ruse” designed to deflect criticism and block Congress from intervening. From 2006 to 2010, when DTC advertising for erectile dysfunction pills rose 62 percent, to $324.3 million, the study found a “consistent pattern” in which drugmakers failed to comply with so-called guiding principles that were propagated by the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, the industry trade group. Originally, PhRMA instituted 15 principles for DTC advertising in 2006, but the list was revised and expanded three years later. The principles cover accuracy; patient education; readability; availability of treatment options; assistance for uninsured or underinsured patients, and avoiding audiences for which messages may be inappropriate, among other things (here are the principles). Both times, PhRMA cited its principles as reasons that Congress should not pass a law that would have restricted the time of day that TV ads for impotence pills could be aired. Instead, drugmakers convinced lawmakers such a move would be unnecessary because they complied with industry principles which, after the revision, said that at least 90 percent of the audience for the ads would be 18 years...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Bayer Cialis Eli Lilly Erectile Dysfunction GlaxoSmithKline Impotence Leviitra Merck Pfizer Viagra Source Type: blogs