FDA Issues New Advertising Guidelines to Protect Consumers
The Food and Drug Administration took steps to protect consumers from predatory and misleading advertising by manufacturers when it issued its new proposed advertising guidelines for drugs and medical devices. While the guidelines are not binding, they provide information to companies about how to avoid breaking FDA regulations.
According to the FDA, the document was issued in part because of a request from the drug industry for advice on how to comply with the agency’s rules for the marketing of medical products. Of particular concern is the omission or minimization of information about possible risks associated with a product, which compromise the most common violations of FDA regulations.
The guidelines recommend that advertisements be as specific as possible, and describe how small details like font and the amount of white space in printed material can best present information about risks and side effects. The FDA guidelines also discourage companies from sending conflicting messages in advertisements, such as using cheerful music in commercials while the risk information for a drug or device is being listed. Hopefully, if companies follow these guidelines, they will increase awareness in patients and health-care providers about the possible side effects of their drugs and medical devices. Read more about FDA product warnings.
Tags: drug advertising, FDA