Drugs

Sen. Franken Bill Seeks End to DTC Advertising Deduction

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has introduced legislation to end prescription drug advertising tax deductions. “Right now, pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars every year on television, magazine, and Internet advertisements - and the federal government gives those companies a tax break every time you see a drug advertisement,” a Franken release says. “The Protecting Americans from Drug Marketing Act would eliminate these tax advantages so that pharmaceutical companies can focus on developing new drugs — not marketing schemes.”

In 2014, spending on prescription drug ads reached $4.5 billion, a 30% increase from 2012. “In fact, a recent survey showed that more than 80% of Americans reported seeing or hearing prescription drug ads, with about 3 in 10 people saying they spoke with their doctor about specific medicine as a result of these advertisements,” Franken says. “The United States and New Zealand are the only countries that explicitly allow direct-to-consumer marketing for prescription drugs. The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for a ban, indicating that these advertisements encourage expensive treatments, despite the existence of more affordable alternatives.”

You can read a copy of the Protecting Americans from Drug Marketing Act by clicking here.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome