Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act of 2025

Bill: 119-s-483
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Introduced: 2025-02-06
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies

Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation

Internet, web applications, social media

Marketing and advertising

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2025-02-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-02-06
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act of 2025</strong></p><p>This bill prohibits direct-to-consumer advertising of new drugs during the first three years following their approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Direct-to-consumer advertising includes advertising via social media.&nbsp;</p><p>Upon request from a drug’s sponsor, the FDA may waive the prohibition during the third year following a drug’s approval if it determines that the direct-to-consumer advertising of the drug would have an affirmative value to public health. Conversely, the FDA may prohibit such advertising beyond the three-year period following approval if it determines that the drug has significant adverse health effects based on post-approval studies, adverse event reports, and other appropriate resources.&nbsp;</p><p>The prohibition applies to new drugs approved beginning one year before the bill’s enactment.</p>

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 483 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 6 (legislative day, February 5), 2025 Mr. King (for himself, Mr. Kaine , and Mr. Welch ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to restrict direct-to-consumer drug advertising.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act of 2025 . 2. Direct-to-consumer drug advertising The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 301 ( 21 U.S.C. 331 ), by adding at the end the following: (jjj) The conduct of direct-to-consumer advertising of a drug in violation of section 506M. ; and (2) in chapter V, by inserting after section 506L ( 21 U.S.C. 356l ) the following: 506M. Direct-to-consumer drug advertising (a) Prohibitions (1) First 3 years (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), no person shall conduct direct-to-consumer advertising, including on a social media platform, of a drug approved under section 505(c) before the end of the 3-year period beginning on the date of such approval. (B) Waiver The Secretary may waive the application of subparagraph (A) to a drug during the third year of the 3-year period described in such subparagraph if— (i) the sponsor of the drug submits an application to the Secretary pursuant to subparagraph (C); and (ii) the Secretary, after considering the application and any accompanying materials, determines that direct-to-consumer advertising of the drug would have an affirmative value to public health. (C) Application for waiver To seek a waiver under subparagraph (B), the sponsor of a drug shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Subsequent years The Secretary may prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising, including on social media platforms, of a drug during the period beginning at the end of the 3-year period described in paragraph (1)(A) if the Secretary determines that the drug has significant adverse health effects based on post-approval studies, risk-benefit analyses, adverse event reports, the scientific literature, any clinical or observational studies, or any other appropriate resource. (b) Regulations Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall revise the regulations promulgated under this Act governing drug advertisements to the extent necessary to implement this section. (c) Rule of construction This section shall not be construed to diminish the authority of the Secretary to prohibit or regulate direct-to-consumer advertising of drugs, including on social media platforms, under any other provision of law. (d) Effective date This section applies only with respect to a drug approved under section 505(c) on or after the date that is 1 year before the date of enactment of this section. .