Direct-to-Consumer Drugs: Big Pharma’s Digital Health Play

MedPage Today September 13, 2024
N. Adam Brown

— Regulators will need to closely watch this new frontier

More than a quarter of a century ago, the FDA eased regulations to make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to consumers. Today, it is nearly impossible to get through a family sitcom without hearing an ad listing symptoms and side-effects and encouraging the viewer to “speak with” their physician.

If patients and physicians are tired of the drug company pleas, tighten your seat belts.

Two major pharmaceutical companies have announced they intend to sell directly to consumers using digital health platforms. Other companies will likely follow suit. It appears major pharmaceutical companies are trying to keep up with successful smaller platforms like Hims & Hers.

Will this...

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