Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8128

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

Reissman D.
New drugs and DTC advertising: friend or foe?
Drug Benefit Trends 1998 Jun; 10:16

Abstract:

The impact of the increase in the number of new drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the increase in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising that has led to increased medical utilization and pharmacy costs in the managed care setting is discussed. It was noted that although increases in managed care costs may be driven by consumers seeking care and treatment as a result of seeing DTC advertisements, such consumer awareness should in the long run improve health and reduce the cost of disease treatment by encouraging early intervention.