english.prescrire.org > Spotlight > Archives : 2007 > 2006 drug review: advertising takes precedence over innovation

Spotlight: Archives

Every month, the subjects in Prescrire’s Spotlight.

2007 : 1 | 30 | 60 | 90

2006 drug review: advertising
takes precedence over innovation

Pharmaceutical companies are failing to come up with any real innovations, and are spending more and more money on advertising, particularly to the consumer.

In 2006, of the hundreds of drugs reviewed by Prescrire, there were only 23 new active substances and very few tangible therapeutic advances for patients. 17 drugs with a negative benefit-risk balance were put on the market.

Pharmaceutical companies' failure to come up with innovations is worldwide and chronic. And yet the companies satisfy their shareholders, since a clever marketing strategy can turn drugs that offer no therapeutic benefits to patients into a jackpot.

The industry’s current growth strategy relies upon advertising, especially to consumers, generally in the guise of "health information".

Backed by the European Commission, pharmaceutical companies are lobbying to make it legal to advertise prescription drugs to consumers in Europe. In the meantime, they are circumventing the ban, notably by providing misleading information on diseases. Several drugs are now on the market for new "diseases" largely fabricated by pharmaceutical companies. The industry is increasingly encouraging patients to take to their beds, claiming to help them adhere to their treatment (so-called compliance support programmes).

Companies are trying to get involved in all areas of health, including in the doctor-patient relationship. This blurring of roles is bound to leave patients worse off.

©Prescrire February 2007

Source: "L’année 2006 du médicament : quand la publicité masque l’absence de progrès thérapeutique" Rev Prescrire 2007 ; 27 (280) : 140-150.

- More articles in Prescrire's "Spotlight"...