US FDA reviews drug company coupons, other offers

	Tweet

Drug company offers of coupons, free music downloads and other enticements for consumers to use specific medicines are under scrutiny by U.S. regulators, a health official said on Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public input on whether such inducements are appropriate ways to promote medicines, said Dr. Rachel Behrman, deputy director of the FDA’s Office of Medical Policy.

"That is one of several questions” that will be addressed at a public meeting the FDA is holding in November on consumer-directed advertising of prescription drugs, Behrman said in an interview following a Senate hearing.

Consumer group Public Citizen complained to senators about an ad on the Internet and broadcast on MTV music television that offered up to 10 free downloads of music to consumers who got a prescription for acne drug Differin and refilled it.

“Bribing physicians has long been held to be illegal. This advertisement essentially pays teenagers to convince adults to procure this drug for them, with the size of the payment in proportion to the amount of drug prescribed,” said Peter Lurie, deputy director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.

David Margulies, a spokesman for Differin maker Galderma Laboratories LP, said the promotion “encourages individuals to seek help from a qualified physician for a serious medical problem. Only the physician can prescribe Differin.” Galderma Labs is the U.S. subsidiary of Galderma Pharma of Lausanne, Switzerland, a joint venture of Switzerland’s Nestle SA and France’s L’Oreal.

Behrman said the promise of free music was “not the only technique. It seems obvious that will raise people’s attention because it’s kids; but there are other techniques, like coupons” that FDA officials are examining.

In an FDA statement announcing the November meeting, the agency said: “Advertising strategies typically used in nonmedical settings have raised concern when such strategies are applied to prescription drugs” or certain medical devices.

“For example, some companies offer consumers coupons, free samples, free trials, and money-back guarantees for prescription drugs ... Are these approaches appropriate ways to influence consumers?”

RELATED STORIES:
Are Your Children’s Rx Meds FDA-approved?   UK science centre to probe mysteries of the mind   Japanese bill recognises problem of elderly abuse   22,000 Members Of Czech Army Are Overweight   Comprehensive primary care programs treat older patients with chronic conditions   NAFLD Patients Have Increased Risk for Poor Outcomes After Liver Transplant   Media Ignores Health Consequences of Drinking and Driving Among Young Celebrities   Obama declares swine flu a national emergency   65 million more obese adults in the US and 11 million more in the UK expected by 2030   Chronic disease to cost $47 trillion by 2030: WEF   Greece to apply smoking ban from July 1   Victims of Nazi medical experiments get more funds

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]