FDA Hearing to Target Internet Promotion of Regulated Medical Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a public hearing for November 12-13, 2009, to discuss issues related to ways the internet and social media tools are used to promote FDA-regulated medical products, including prescription drugs for humans and animals. Comments from “consumers, patients, caregivers, health care professionals, patient groups, internet vendors, advertising agencies, and the regulated industry” are requested by October 9, 2009.

FDA is “particularly interested in hearing views from the public as to how expanding Web 2.0 technologies may be used to promote medical products to both health care professionals and consumers in a truthful, non-misleading, and balanced manner.” Emerging internet technologies such as blogs, microblogs, podcasts, social networks and online communities, video sharing, widgets, and wikis have prompted questions from regulated companies and other interested parties regarding advertising and labeling provisions, regulations and promotion policies. See Federal Register, September 21, 2009.