Truth in advertising

Landauer R (1990) Advanced technology and truth in advertising. Physica A 168 75... 

Quoted in U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Truth in Advertising Rx Drug Ads Come of Age, FDA Magazine. Available online. URL http //www.fda.gov/ fdac/features/2004/404 ads.html. Posted July/August 2004. 

Rados C. 2004. Truth in advertising Rx drug ads come of age. FDA Consumer magazine, July-August. www.fda.gov. 

Kodric-Brown, A., and Brown, J. H., 1984, Truth in advertising The kinds of traits favored by sexual selection, Amer. Nat., 124 309. 

The regulations also address the need to ensure that drug information provided by pharmaceutical firms is truthful, balanced, and accurately communicated. As such, it must be consistent with the indications for use and the established performance and limitations. In Europe, the directives do not impose a specific requirement to review advertising or promotional material before it is released. Acceptable standards may be achieved via voluntary codes of practice and self-regulation. However, national authorities must monitor such material and should have the power to act where the need arises. In the U S, the F DA must vet advertising and promotional material before it is released. 

The certificate for promotional material must certify that the signatories have examined the final form of the material and that in their belief it is in accordance with the requirements of the relevant advertising regulations and this Code, is not inconsistent with the marketing authorization and the summary of product characteristics and is a fair and truthful presentation of the facts about the medicine. 

Responding to a suit against the FDA by the Washington Legal Foundation, a district court judge rules that the FDA cannot restrict truthful, non-misleading speech in DTC advertising. 

All information in prescription drug advertising and promotional materials issued by or sponsored by drug companies must be truthful and not misleading. Only information consistent with FDA-approved labeling may be disseminated in promotional materials. 

The advertising statement, when considered in relation to the advertising for the medicinal product as a whole, must be accurate, up to date and truthful, and correct and verifiable in its constituent parts. 

Some provisions of the Code are of particular importance to pharmaceutical physicians, e.g., Clause 14 requires that promotional material be certified by two persons in the company, one of whom must be a doctor. The other must be a pharmacist, or another person appropriately qualified or a senior official in the company or an appropriately qualified person whose services are retained for that purpose. The promotion must be certified to be in accordance with the Code, including the relevant advertising requirements. It must also be consistent with the marketing authorization and summary of product characteristics and be a fair and truthful representation of the facts about the medicine. 

---