Trump Announces Crackdown on Drug Ads

The Trump administration is planning to ramp up oversight and enforcement of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising, but will stop short of an outright ban.

President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive memorandum instructing the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer advertising, including by requiring greater disclosures of side effects.

The Food and Drug Administration sent out approximately 100 cease-and-desist enforcement letters, as well as thousands of warning letters to inform companies the agency is prioritizing enforcement.

The announcement follows up on the administration’s Make America Healthy Again Commission report, which includes a call to focus on “egregious violations demonstrating harm” stemming from online influencers and telehealth companies.

The administration is planning to repeal the so-called adequate provision loophole, which allows companies to list an abbreviated summary of side effects in television ads, so long as they direct consumers to another source — like a website, a print ad, or a toll-free phone number — for the full list.

Administration officials said they anticipate that in some cases, listing more side effects would make the ads longer, a move that would likely drive up the costs for drug companies.

Officials said they weren’t directly trying to limit the number of ads, but they want consumers to be more informed.