Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3984

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Wade VA, Mansfield PR, McDonald PJ.
Drug companies' evidence to justify advertising.
Lancet 1989 Nov 25; 2:(8674):1261-3

Abstract:

Ten international pharmaceutical companies were asked by letter to supply their best evidence in support of marketing claims for seventeen products. Fifteen replies were received. Seven replies cited a total of 67 references: 31 contained relevant original data and only 13 were controlled trials, all of which had serious methodological flaws. There were four reports of changes in advertising claims and one company ceased marketing nikethamide in the third world. Standards of evidence used to justify advertising claims are inadequate.

Keywords:
*analytic survey/references/quality of information/Medical Lobby for Appropriate Marketing/MaLAM/developing countries/company responses/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: USE OF REFERENCES Advertising/standards* Developing Countries Drug Industry/standards* Evaluation Studies Fraud Health Promotion/methods* Product Surveillance, Postmarketing/methods*