FDA weighs in on online drug sales

The Food and Drug Administration has opened hearings on regulating drug claims on the internet. ...  More »

The Food and Drug Administration has opened hearings on regulating drug claims on the internet. While advertisements on TV, radio, newspapers and magazines have strict rules, drug makers can say just about anything they want on the web. Critics say it's time for the government to make sure consumers are protected. "You have bloggers saying, 'I love this medication!' or ' I love these wrinkle-fillers, when in fact they've been bought and paid for by the company that makes that product," points out the National Research Center for Women and Families' Diana Zuckerman. On traditional media drug manufacturers have to spell out side effects. They say they want similar rules for information on the web. "Some of it is legitimate FDA regulated information, and that's the information we want to highlight, and some of it is obviously from snake oil salesmen," says the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America's Jeffrey Francer. One former FDA official says it's past time for the government to get online. "It's a library without a librarian," says Peter Pitts. "We need to put - have rules in place when people access information, in many cases in great detail, that they have faith that information is coming from a regulated and reliable source." Thursday's hearing came seven months after the FDA sent out warning letters to more than a dozen drug manufacturers accusing them of making inaccurate claims on the internet.  « Less