Originally published August 6 2005
Drug companies promise to institute "responsible" advertising guidelines
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
An outcry against drug companies about irresponsible advertising campaigns directed at consumers has convinced the pharmaceutical companies to adopt voluntary guidelines.
Responding to intense criticism, the pharmaceutical industry yesterday adopted voluntary guidelines for direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.
The initiative, which was described as a "comprehensive" approach to informing consumers, comes amid rising controversy over the extent to which ads disclose important safety data or prompt patients to insist doctors prescribe a particular medicine.
A steady drumbeat of ads -- industry spending topped $4 billion last year -- has riled some members of Congress, angered doctors and provided fodder for a growing number of lawsuits over harmful side effects linked to widely promoted medicines such as Vioxx.
Consumer advocates also argue that such heavy ad spending contributes unnecessarily to the rising cost of prescription medicines, a political hot potato that has put drug makers on the defensive in every corner of the nation.
For their part, industry critics called the effort an inadequate publicity gimmick.
They noted the guidelines closely match what is already required by federal law.
Moreover, they pointed out the initiative is voluntary and lacks a meaningful enforcement mechanism.
"Overall, it looks like the industry is trying to give the public a placebo," said Rob Schneider, who heads Consumer Union's Prescription for Change advocacy project.
And companies could have done this already."
Schneider also expressed disappointment that the guidelines don't include a step recently taken by Bristol-Myers Squibb, which voluntarily agreed to delay direct-to-consumer ads for all new drugs for a year after FDA approval.
The group is touting a bill, which is pending in the U.S. Senate, that would give greater authority to the Food and Drug Administration.
"The reality is that if you don't adhere to the law, the FDA is unlikely to catch you, anyway," Wolfe said.
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