Bill Frist (R-TN), who is both the majority leader of the Senate and a medical doctor, is calling for limits on pharma advertising - - in particular, he wants a two-year moratorium for newly-introduced drugs. Meanwhile, a report says that drug companies are cutting back on advertising regardless. Frist says that advertising by pharmaceutical companies is one of the causes of rapid increases in medical costs overall. In the case of newer drugs, it is especially egregious, in his opinion, because the ads pose the risk of overselling benefits, underselling drawbacks and creating artificial demand. He is asking for voluntary industry compliance, but at the same time is requesting a GAO report on the topic which could become the basis for legislation, according to a report in USA Today. Former House Commerce Committee chair Billy Tauzin (R-LA), who now heads a major pharma trade organization, said his group would look into the matter, keeping in mind it would be reluctant to sacrifice any of its free speech rights. At least one watchdog was pleased by Frist's plan. President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation Michael Weinstein said, "This is a long-overdue and welcome step in the right direction to regulate an industry that has been allowed to run rampant and profit at the public's expense for far too long."

---

President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation Michael Weinstein: "We applaud Senator Frist for seeking a two-year ban on direct-to-consumer ads for new drugs and for taking this crucial step toward ensuring responsible promotion of drug industry products. This is a long-overdue and welcome step in the right direction to regulate an industry that has been allowed to run rampant and profit at the public's expense for far too long. Recent studies have demonstrated that direct-to-consumer advertising actually creates the market for many drugs and that such advertising is, in fact, critical to a drug's success. As prescription-drug prices soar beyond the reach of many Americans, we urge Congress and the FDA to take a cue from Senator Frist and regulate this multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical industry that far too-often places its revenue above its responsibility to consumer health and safety and then expects the public to foot the bill."