H.R. 4605: End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act

This bill, titled the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act, aims to prohibit drug manufacturers from engaging in direct-to-consumer advertising of their products. The main points of the bill include:

Prohibition on Advertising

The bill amends an existing law, specifically Section 502 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. It introduces a new restriction that applies to any drug that has been approved or licensed within the recent 30-day period prior to the advertising. The key elements of this prohibition are:

• Drug manufacturers will not be allowed to conduct any promotional communication that targets consumers. This includes advertising methods such as:
• Television
• Radio
• Print media
• Digital platforms
• Social media
• This prohibition is applicable to drugs approved under section 505 or licensed under section 351 of the Public Health Service Act, as long as these drugs are subject to specific regulatory provisions.

Effective Date

The restrictions outlined in the bill will come into effect 30 days after it becomes law. This means that once the bill is enacted, the prohibition will apply to any drug that has received approval or licensing under the specified legal sections, irrespective of the approval date.

Purpose of the Bill

The main purpose of this bill is to eliminate direct advertising of prescription drugs to consumers, which proponents argue could lead to more rational medication use and reduce pharmaceutical influence over consumer health decisions.

Impact on Drug Manufacturers

Drug manufacturers will need to adjust their marketing strategies significantly. By restricting advertising directly to consumers, they may have to rely more on healthcare providers and other channels for information dissemination regarding their products.

Relevant Companies

None found