• Reuters, Friday, January 12, 2007 12 PM

Drug companies will pony up millions of dollars in new fees next year so federal health officials can review their TV ads before they air. Under the plan, the companies would pay the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a one-time fee on top of charges for each television ad submitted for review--$6.25 million in fiscal year 2008.

The fees help the FDA analyze the growing number of TV drug ads for misleading claims and other problems before they air.

The ruling goes with proposed legislation that would renew other industry funding for FDA drug reviews through 2012 and includes about $392.8 million in fees for fiscal year 2008. Companies do not need prior approval from regulators to run their ads, but many do send them in to avoid fines and other penalties for misleading claims, which drugmakers have been warned about in the past.

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