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# Research Describes Drug Ad Data Display
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/research-describes-drug-ad-data-display/
- Published: 2023-04-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T18:26:09.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, FDA Policy/General, #legacy-id-D5154238

Researchers from FDA and RTI International say data displays in prescription drug advertising geared to healthcare providers are often “highly complex.” Writing in *Therapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science*, the researchers [say](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43441-023-00523-3?ref=fdaweb.com) information conveyed in prescription drug promotion data displays vary in their presentation and complexity.

The study characterized the content of 140 data displays in 98 unique print ads from 2009 to the present. About one-third of the ads contained multiple data displays, ranging from two to six. Some 44% showed clinical data from oncology trials with other disease domains being mental and behavioral health (14%), rheumatology and autoimmune disorders (8%), endocrinology (7%), cardiology (6%), infectious disease (6%), pulmonology and allergy (4%), and others (less than 2%).

About half of the displays were classified as “simple,” which included “pseudographs” and basic tables or charts. “Complex” displays appeared as survival curves, line graphs, or bar graphs with complex features. Most complex displays included a comparator drug (90%), plain language restatement of the key finding (93%), and disclosure statements (91%), with additional study details, although their placement varied.

“Future research assessing understanding of data displays and the potentially beneficial effect of disclosures and other features is warranted,” the study concludes.