The pharmaceutical industry spent $4.53 billion on direct-to-consumer advertising in the US in 2014, up 18% from $3.83 billion in 2013, reports FiercePharma.
Pharma’s ad spend vaults to $4.5B, with big spender Pfizer leading the way (FiercePharma, March 25, 2015)
DTC advertising needs to be made illegal, especially since many of the pharmaceutical drugs are worse for people than cigarettes and alcohol.
It is illegal in many countries (at least for prescription drugs).
Pharmaceutical corporations exist to grow make profits by virtually any means they can get away with. They are not held to moral or ethical standards. Therefore, they should not be allowed to dupe ordinary people (typically unwell people no less) with deceptive advertising.
Only two countries permit pharmaceutical companies to buy direct-to-consumer advertising – the U.S. and New Zealand.
Yet another good reason not to watch TV (or to use TIVO to dump the ads). As for “women’s” magazines – don’t read those unless you want to know why you should Ability to your anti-depressant – if the anti-depressaant isn’t working.
