FDA plans to study TV drug ads

Just how much impact do those endless TV drug advertisements have on consumers? The truth is, nobody's sure just how much of an impression they make--but the FDA would like to find out.

The agency has set plans to launch a study designed to measure subjects' recall, and how well they understand risk and benefit information presented in the ads. To conduct the study, the agency is planning to produce ads for a fictitious blood pressure medication, then get 2,400 participants to view them. It will then find out what messages they retain from the ad.

Once the research is completed, the agency plans to use the data to consider how it might set standards for DTC ads. The standards are called for in the FDA Amendments Act of 2007.

To learn more about the study:
- read this AMNews piece

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