Moratoriums On DTC Ads For New Drugs: Take The Poll
7 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // June 17th, 2008 // 9:19 am
Yesterday, we reported that four drugmakers - Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Schering-Plough and Pfizer - responded to Congressional pressure and agreed to a six-month moratorium on DTC ads for new drugs, and they will also limit how docs are used in their ads.
The changes were disclosed in letters sent to the House Energy and Commerce Committee responding to a request from committee chairman John Dingell, a Michigan Democrat and, Bart Stupak, another Michigan Democrat who heads the committee’s oversight and investigations subcommittee. But Dingell and Stupak sought a two-year voluntary moratorium on DTC and possibly even longer in the case of drugs for which not all studies have been completed.
Clearly, there is a qualitative difference between six months and two years. But what do you think?
A moratorium on DTC ads for new drugs should last how long?
- 2 years (66%, 74 Votes)
- 6 months (34%, 38 Votes)
Total Voters: 112
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Bruce
Ed, why would they allow a drug to be approved without all of its studies completed?
Atlex
Bruce,
I think that they are talking about post-marketing studies–those requested/required by the FDA upon approval of the product.
Atlex
Jack2
Ed- no option for “no moratorium?”
Ed Silverman
Hi Jack2, Bruce and Atlex,
Hmm… I didn’t know that was an option :)
How about in the next poll?
Cheers
ed
Also, Atlex, thanks for fielding that question from Bruce. I’ve been very wrapped up the last few hours.
Bruce
Hey Ed,
I think you have built yourself a very good community here.
Thanks Atlex. These post-marketing studies are the ones that never get completed, right?
Cheers!
Robyn
There’s “a qualitative difference between six months and two years”, but no DTC advertising at all would be better still - another option for the next poll.
Elizebeth
As an ex Pfizer rep who sold Chantix, I felt a personal responsibility during the launch of Chantix to warn physicians that Chantix was not studied in patients with known mental disorders or patients who were taking anti-depressants or any other agents for mental disorders. Not all reps recited this warning nor did Pfizer train reps to recite this during the first year of detailing Chantix. Due to Chantix’s mechanism of action and the way it effected the receptors in the brain, I felt uncomfortable with this drug’s use in mentally unstable patients.
I beleive that in order for a company to run a DTC (direct to consumer) ad–the drug should have at least been on the market not two years but 3. It’s usually within the second year that post marketing results and Adverse Events start multiplying.