US Health Secretary RFK Jr. Plans Pharma Ad Restrictions Threatening $10B Market

The Trump administration is considering policies to restrict pharmaceutical companies' direct-to-consumer advertising, which could disrupt over $10 billion in annual ad spending. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports these measures, aiming to limit how drugs are promoted to reduce Americans' high consumption of prescription medications. Proposed policies include requiring more detailed disclosures of side effects in ads, potentially making them longer and costlier, and removing the tax deduction for such advertising expenses. These changes threaten a significant revenue source for broadcasters and the pharmaceutical industry, with companies like AbbVie and Pfizer being major spenders on direct-to-consumer ads. The U.S. remains one of the only countries allowing such advertising, alongside New Zealand, and the administration is cautiously approaching the issue to avoid legal challenges. While the discussions are ongoing and no final decisions have been made, these efforts mark a notable shift in drug marketing regulation under the current administration.