Trump to go after pharma companies, social media influencers for ads without disclosure

"President Donald Trump signed a memo on Sept. 9 to increase enforcement actions against companies that use direct-to- consumer pharmaceutical advertisements and do not adequately disclose side effects from medications. The ads have now encroached into social media without proper disclosures with many online pharmacies not following the same rules that many pharmaceutical companies follow, a senior White House official said."

""My Administration will ensure that the current regulatory framework for drug advertising results in fair, balanced, and complete information for American consumers," the memo said. Over the years, enforcement also has also dwindled, with no letters sent out last year, the official said. The administration will also take on social media companies and social media influencers who are paid to promote pharmaceutical products without following the same rules that pharmaceutical companies abide by."

""We're at a place where they're spending 20% to 25% of their budgets on marketing and advertising, and the vast majority of that is advertising," said one senior White House official. "We would like to ask these companies instead of spending 20% to 25% of their budgets on these ads to lower drug prices for everyday Americans, which they can do and is a huge priority for this president.""

A Sept. 9 memo increases enforcement actions against companies using direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertisements that fail to disclose medication side effects. Direct-to-consumer ads have expanded into social media, and many online pharmacies do not follow the same disclosure rules as pharmaceutical companies. Enforcement activity has declined in recent years, with no enforcement letters issued last year. The administration plans to target social media companies and paid influencers who promote pharmaceutical products without adhering to advertising rules. Officials will examine closing the "adequate provision loophole" that permits directing consumers elsewhere for comprehensive side-effect lists and other full information.

Read at USA TODAY