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# FDA Drug Ad Crackdown Leads to More Spending on TV/Streaming Ads: Report
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/fda-drug-ad-crackdown-leads-to-more-spending-on-tv-streaming-ads-report/
- Published: 2026-05-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T13:40:13.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5161230

An FDA crackdown on allegedly deceptive prescription drug advertising has coincided with a sharp increase in pharmaceutical advertising spending on television and streaming platforms, according to a new report from the Video Advertising Bureau.

The [report](https://roastbrief.us/pharma-tv-spend-up-53-since-fdas-september-crackdown-on-deceptive-drug-ads/?ref=fdaweb.com) examined advertising trends following FDA’s 9/2025 enforcement initiative, in which the agency issued more than 65 warning letters to pharmaceutical companies over promotional practices. According to VAB, about 96% of the letters targeted advertising on digital and social media platforms.

VAB said the enforcement actions created greater regulatory clarity for pharmaceutical marketers, prompting increased investment in multiscreen television advertising, including broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

The report found that in the six months following the FDA action, the number of prescription drug advertisers using television increased 11% year over year, while total TV advertising spending by pharmaceutical companies rose 53%.

Jason Wiese, executive vice president of strategic insights and measurement at VAB, said the shift reflected growing interest in platforms viewed as better suited to meeting FDA disclosure and fair-balance requirements.

The report also documented a trend toward longer television advertisements for prescription drugs. Between the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2026, the share of pharma television ads running longer than 30 seconds increased from 74% to 82%, according to the analysis. Meanwhile, the proportion of 60-second pharmaceutical television commercials increased from 56% in August 2025 to 63% in March.

VAB said the longest advertisements were concentrated in therapeutic categories involving serious or complex diseases, including depression, HIV, tardive dyskinesia, bipolar disorder, cancer and diabetes.

According to the report, pharmaceutical marketers are increasingly using longer-format television and streaming advertisements to better communicate product risks, side effects and safety information while maintaining compliance with FDA advertising standards.

The report includes advertising spending and format analyses across broadcast television, streaming, prime-time programming, sports, news and entertainment categories.