FDA Policy/General

Senators Introduce Bill to Ban DTC Drug Advertising

Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Angus King (I-ME) have introduced legislation that would ban direct-to-consumer drug advertising across television, radio, print, digital platforms, and social media. Their End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act aligns with HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who advocated for such a ban during his 2024 presidential campaign bid.

“The American people are sick and tired of greedy pharmaceutical companies spending billions of dollars on absurd TV commercials pushing their outrageously expensive prescription drugs,” said Sanders, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “It is time for us to end that international embarrassment.”

King echoed the concern, citing both cost and health implications. “The widespread use of direct-to-consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies drives up costs and doesn’t necessarily make patients healthier,” he said. “This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements.”

According to the senators, U.S. drug companies spent more than $5 billion on television ads last year alone. Prescription drug commercials now make up over 30% of ad time during major networks’ evening news programs. In just the first quarter of 2025, pharmaceutical companies spent over $725 million advertising only 10 drugs.

Meanwhile, they say, U.S. patients continue to pay the highest prices in the world for medications, with one in four Americans reportedly unable to afford their prescriptions. Sanders and King argue that the advertising blitz contributes to this disparity by promoting expensive drugs — many of which offer little to no benefit over existing treatments — and misleading consumers about risks and effectiveness.

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