Congress Could Block New Drug Ads

A bill set to move through Congress would allow the FDA to forbid pharmaceutical companies from advertising new drugs for two years following their approval.

The bipartisan legislation, co-written by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming), is designed to limit drug promotion until large-scale safety studies -- which can only be performed after a drug hits the market -- are performed.

"We don't know, and we won't know, how truly safe a drug is until it's been used in millions of people," said Consumer Reports analyst Bill Vaughan. "The real testing of these drugs takes place after a pill hits the market and that's why the advertising needs to be regulated."

For its part, the drug industry says pharmaceutical ads are an important tool for patients, giving them information about diseases and treatment options.

Bill could block some ads for new drugs [Associated Press]