Pharma Marketing Faces a Character-Count Conundrum

this_boat_is_real writes "There's growing concern over how pharmaceutical companies use social media and the Internet to market their products. Last November, the US Food and Drug Administration held a hearing on the topic, and many were worried over how marketing mediums such as Twitter — which has a 140-character limit on text — can sufficiently disclose drug risks." Here's the FDA's announcement about last year's hearings, which includes links to an archive of presentations as well as a video record of the meeting.

Re:A simple solution

[Ethanol-fueled]

Good idea. But that still leaves Caucasian Womens' magazines [nih.gov] and TV. Have you picked up an issue of Home and Garden lately? That mag and those like it are chock full of two-page spreads of women frolicing in fields aside pink-and-blue [humansbyumans.com] of bipolar graphic design.

Meanwhile, erectile dysfunciton medicine ads are featuring younger and younger men. Then there's the awkwardness of having to explain them to your kids who see them on TV.

Re:Sure, let's solve those disclosure requirements

[barzok]

Quit allowing the advertisement of prescription drugs. The reason that prescription drugs are, well, by prescription, is that they may carry significant risks, and careful evaluation by a professional is required as to whether a patient should take them.

There are only 2 countries which allow "direct to consumer" advertising of prescription drugs - the US and New Zealand, and I'm not 100% about NZ (been a while since I looked). That should tell you something right there.

Medical decisions should be made based upon a detailed discussion with a professional, not a glossy brochure.

Sometimes I wonder if the glossy brochure and a few free pens & notepads is all the professional is working off as well.

Re:A simple solution

[azrider]

"ask your doctor if [insert drug here] is right for you".

Even better are the ones that say "Tell your doctor if you have [insert disease here]". Last I knew, since my doctor is supposedly monitoring my health, my doctor should be telling me.
Otherwise, this is a blatant invitation for doctor shopping. If your doctor will not prescribe the medicine du jour, find one that will.

Re:A simple solution

[Plunky]

Wow, as an Australian, I find this pharma marketing so bizarre. Except for over-the-counter stuff like pain killers, there is no advertising of medical products in Australia (same for NZ, UK, probably most of the rest of the western world in fact).

There is, they just have to target the doctors directly (who don't have time, knowledge or inclination to investigate the claims directly, and are more likely to be swayed by the fancy literature and free lunch accompanying the salesperson)