As drug companies' marketing budgets have exploded, the number of prescriptions being issued has climbed. The amount drug companies have spent on promotions has increased dramatically over the last several years. IMS Health Inc. FDA Sends Out Many Citations Enter Tom Abrams, the chief watchdog at the Food and Drug Administration for deceptive advertising. He says some ads stretch the truth with overstated claims of effectiveness and understated descriptions of side effects. Every year, the FDA sends about 100 letters to drug companies demanding changes in television commercials, magazine ads and other promotional materials.
Some companies are repeat offenders.
For example, the makers of Celebrex, the hugely popular drug for arthritis, have been cited for three different promotions. The makers of the allergy drug Claritin are also repeat offenders, the FDA says. Since 1997, the manufacturers have been told 10 times to change their sales pitches. The FDA also targeted the makers of Meridia, Prilosec, Lipitor and Provocal. The industry is not anxious to talk about the issue.