An old debate, a fresh response on drug ads

The drug lobby PhRMA is out with a new brief arguing drug makers spend three times more on research and development than on advertising. The question of how drug companies really spend their money has been a topic of fierce debate peppering the pages of peer-reviewed journals for years, and PhRMA’s brief is unlikely to put the issue to bed. But it’s a not-so-subtle response to a common refrain from drug industry critics, who take every opportunity to slam drug makers’ hokey TV ads, and their massive budgets.

Even if you don’t enjoy those pesky Cialis commercials, PhRMA says it shouldn’t be faulted for advertising its drugs. The group argues marketing attracts capital and reduces stigma for patients. “R&D and marketing are NOT a zero-sum game,” PhRMA writes.