There are only two countries on Earth where pharmaceutical companies are allowed to advertise directly to consumers.

One is New Zealand.

The other is the United States.

You know the ads.

A detached, disinterested voice — someone who sounds like they’d rather be having a root canal — rushes through a list of serious or even deadly side effects. But the visuals depict a breathtaking sunset, an old-timey carnival, or frollicking puppies. And it’s all set to a cheery soundtrack.

Congress passed a law in 2007 directing the Food and Drug Administration to develop a rule that would require these ads to present a drug’s major risks in a clear and fair manner.

In 2010, the FDA proposed a rule that would have prevented these ads from containing “distracting representations” — including text, images, or sounds — that detract from communicating information about a drug’s risk of serious adverse effects.

But that was 12 years ago — and the FDA *still* hasn’t acted on behalf of American consumers and finalized its rule!

As Michael Carome — the director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group — told the national media:

“For more than a decade, the FDA has flouted the will of Congress by failing to finalize a rule requiring that direct-to-consumer prescription drug ads provide clear and balanced descriptions of the medicines’ major risks.”

Legislation just introduced in Congress — the Banning Misleading Drug Ads Act of 2022 — would rectify the FDA’s inaction and ensure that consumers are not misled by ads that cleverly downplay the risks of prescription medications.

Tell Congress:

The Food and Drug Administration has failed to protect American consumers from Big Pharma’s misleading TV and radio advertising. Pass the Banning Misleading Drug Ads Act of 2022 without delay.

Add your name now.

Thanks taking action.

For progress,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen

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