Trump signs a memo cracking down on drug advertising

"The pharmaceutical industry's ability to advertise drugs directly to consumers has long been a target of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who floated a ban on those ads in November and has argued that they lead Americans to use more prescription medications. But senior administration officials on Tuesday said the new memorandum goes beyond drugmakers and traditional TV advertising by also targeting ads on social media and digital platforms."

"The measure directs Kennedy and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary to take actions to ensure transparency and accuracy in drug advertising, including by increasing the amount of information related to any product risks, officials said. "Our goal is to ensure that patients have proper information about drugs that have potential harms, and it's to rebuild public trust," one official said, adding that the administration plans to use existing regulations on ads rather than seek new rules."

"The Trump administration will send out around 100 cease-and-desist enforcement letters and thousands of warning letters alerting companies that the government plans to enforce current regulations around those ads, the officials told reporters. The administration also plans to scrutinize social media companies as well as influencers paid to promote pharmaceutical products without proper disclosures or without following the rules that drugmakers must follow, according to the officials."

The memorandum orders increased scrutiny and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising across television, social media, and digital platforms. It directs Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary to take actions to ensure transparency and accuracy in drug advertising, including increasing information on product risks. The administration will use existing regulations and plans to send about 100 cease-and-desist letters and thousands of warning letters to enforce current rules. The measure targets online pharmacies and paid influencers that promote pharmaceuticals without proper disclosures, aiming to protect patients and rebuild public trust.

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