Written
by Frank Baker ©2004
Brief History- since
federal restrictions on the marketing of prescription drugs were
eased in 1997, the number of prescription drugs advertised
in the media has exploded. The Food and Drug Administration
terminology is
direct-to-consumer ( DTCA ) advertising or marketing.
"Total promotional spending directed at consumers and
physicians collectively reached more than $13.9 billion in 1999,
with consumer TV advertising for prescription drugs
accounting for $1.1 billion of that." (Encyclopedia
of Advertising)
"DTCA campaigns cost the pharmaceutical industry
US$2.7 billion in the US in 2001." (Advertising Age/EurekAlert,
Sept. 5, 2003)
Page updated:
02/12/2009
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