New FDA research to guide rules on pharmaceutical marketing

The US Food and Drug Administration has proposed a number of research studies with the aim of supplying scientific backing for its policies related to marketing of prescription drugs.

In a statement, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the research would look at “how patients and health care providers understand prescription drug benefit and risk information in promotional materials.”

Dr Gottlieb said that research into the presentation of drug risks in in TV ads suggested that “a more targeted presentation of risks” could help consumers to better retain key information on side effects.