But besides adding a year to any new-drug ad bans, the House bill requires packaging thatlets consumers know a drug is new to the marketplace. Both bills mandate
pre-clearance of drug ads by the FDA. Jim Davison, a lobbyist for ad groups, says he fears regulators could impose a blanket ban for all new drugs so as not to appear to be playing favorites.
"If a two-year moratorium is bad idea, a three-year [moratorium] is worse," he says. "What is the government's interest in grabbing away truthful and non-misleading advertising? If we believe that information helps consumers and helps them to do positive things, then how do we justify taking information away from them?"
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