By Andrew Stillusfen and Tsedey Bogale on Posted in Product Liability
When the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in Perez v. Wyeth Lab, Inc. that if pharmaceutical manufacturer directly markets to consumers, the learned intermediary doctrine does not apply, it was deemed a “revolutionary,” decision. However, since the ruling, every New Jersey court which has confronted this issue has found that the DTC exception did not … Continue Reading
Over on the Drug & Device Law blog, Reed Smith partner Jim Beck applauds the recent decision in Tyree v. Boston Scientific Corp., a case filed in the Southern District of West Virginia. Tyree manages to narrow the scope of the 2007 decision in State ex rel. Johnson & Johnson v. Karl, in which the … Continue Reading
FDA has released a proposed rule that would amend the regulations affecting direct-to-consumer ("DTC") advertisement regulations to implement a provision of the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007. The change in regulations would require DTC television or broadcast advertisements of prescription drugs to place the "major statement" in a "clear, conspicuous and neutral manner." Under the regulation, FDA would use the following standards to determine whether the information meetings the clear, conspicuous and neutral requirement: 1) information is presented in language that is readily understandable by consumers; 2) audio information is understandable in terms of the volume, articulation, and pacing used; 3) textual information is placed appropriately and is presented against a contrasting background for sufficient duration and in a size and style of font that allows the information to be read easily; and 4) the advertisement does not include distracting representations (including statements, text, images, or sounds or any combination thereof) that detract from the communication of the major statement.
To learn more about FDA's proposed rule on DTC advertising, please read our full alert.… Continue Reading
The article on “Prescription Drug and Medical Device Promotion – New FDA Draft Guidance on Presenting Risk Information” by Reed Smith lawyers Areta Kupchyk, Frederick Branding, Jennifer Goldstein and Kevin Madagan (previously discussed in this post) has now been published in AHLA’s Health Lawyers Weekly.… Continue Reading
On May 27, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") announced the availability of a draft guidance titled "Presenting Risk Information in Prescription Drug and Medical Device Promotion" ("Draft Guidance"). The Draft Guidance sets forth the standards FDA intends to consider when evaluating promotional pieces to determine whether they effectively communicate risk information in a non-misleading manner. Under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act ("FDCA") and FDA's implementing regulations, promotional materials making claims about a product are deemed misleading if they fail to disclose certain information about the product's risks. FDA is accepting comments on the draft through Aug. 25, 2009. Reed Smith's full alert provides a brief outline of the Draft Guidance and identifies issues for possible comment to FDA.… Continue Reading
On Dec. 10, 2008, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America ("PhRMA") released revised guidelines on direct-to-consumer ("DTC") advertising that offer further direction to pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies on providing accurate, accessible and useful information to consumers. The revised "PhRMA Guiding Principles on Direct to Consumer Advertisements about Prescription Medicines" includes new guiding principles that address the use of actors or celebrities in DTC ads, recommending that ads should: identify when actors are playing the roles of health care professionals, acknowledge any compensation paid to actual health care professionals, and accurately reflect the opinions or experiences of celebrity endorsers. In addition, a new PhRMA principle states that print ads should include FDA's MedWatch number, and TV ads should include a company's toll-free number or refer patients to a print ad. There is also guidance on the content and placement of DTC ads with adult-oriented content; the presentation of risks and safety information in DTC ads; and strengthened language asking companies to include in their DTC ads information about help for the uninsured and underinsured.
The revised guidelines will take effect March 2, 2009. Company CEOs and Compliance Officers will certify each year that they have processes in place to comply with the guidelines, and PhRMA will post a list on its website of all companies that make such certifications.… Continue Reading
The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging heard testimony Sept. 17, 2008, to consider recommendations on whether increased regulation of direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) advertising is needed for restricted medical devices regulated by FDA, such as heart stents, replacement hips, and other implanted medical devices. (The Federal Trade Commission regulates advertising for non-restricted medical devices.) Describing its … Continue Reading