• USA Today, Monday, February 25, 2008 11:45 AM

The Food and Drug Administration is receiving $6.1 million for the current fiscal year to check the fairness and accuracy of consumer drug ads--up from $2.2 million the previous year and $1 million the year before. It plans to hire more people so it can review more ads.

The FDA currently has 13 workers devoted to policing direct-to-consumer ad materials. Six are primary reviewers. The FDA has long been so overwhelmed by drug industry ad materials that only a "small portion" is reviewed, the Government Accountability Office said in a 2006 report. Last year, it received 12,616 ads to review.

The boost in 2008 funds came after Congress approved user fees for drug ad reviews, but the program wasn't launched amid funding issues and opposition from lawmakers including Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who chairs a subcommittee overseeing FDA funds. The drug makers' trade association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, supports user fees. Timely FDA review would help drug makers meet marketing goals and lessen the risk of running ads later cited by the FDA for false or misleading content.

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