A Decade of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs

Abstract

Spending on direct-to-consumer advertising has continued to increase in recent years in spite of the criticisms leveled against it. Our findings suggest that calls for a moratorium on such advertising for new drugs would represent a dramatic departure from current practices.

Marketing and pricing strategies of online pharmacies

“…Indeed, in the last years the patient has increased his/her involvement in the decision making process regard his/her health, a process that in the past was totally devolved to the physician with a general concern about the effect of such strategy on patients' health (Donohue 2007).…”

Addition of Generic Medication Vouchers to a Pharmacist Academic Detailing Program: Effects on the Generic Dispensing Ratio in a Physician-Hospital Organization

“…The use of samples, detailing by professional sales representatives, and direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) are 3 key tactics employed by the pharmaceutical industry. 4,5 Most promotional spending by pharmaceutical companies is targeted directly at physicians through sampling (57% of total promotional expenditures) or detailing (26%). 6 Although studies are lacking on the impact of detailing on prescribing behavior, the effect of drug samples on prescribing patterns has been studied.…”

In favour of a Millian proposal to reform biomedical research

“…Spending on direct-to-customer (DTC) advertising by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry shot up from $55 million in 1991 to over $2.5 billion in 2000 and 4.2 billion in 2005 (Rosenthal et al 2002;Donohue et al 2007). DTC advertising has at least two adverse effects.…”