CMAJ • August 2, 2005; 173 (3). doi:10.1503/cmaj.1050124.
© 2005 CMA Media Inc. or its licensors
All editorial matter in CMAJ represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Letters
Correspondance

Standards for pharmaceutical advertising in Canada

Richelle J. Cooper and David L. Schriger

UCLA Emergency Center, UCLA Schol of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif.

We thank Ray Chepesiuk for identifying important differences between Canada and the United States in the regulation of pharmaceutical advertisements and applaud the Canadian effort. Canadian regulations with regard to prerelease review of advertisements are unquestionably more stringent. We are concerned, however, that in neither country is the regulatory effort adequate to ensure that all of the relevant information is available to those making decisions about the effectiveness and cost- effectiveness of medications.1 Although the pharmaceutical industry's recent commitment2 to make all clinically relevant trial data available on an industry-sponsored Web site (www.clinicalstudyresults.org) may help in this regard, at present much relevant material remains unpublished, and peer-reviewed publications often fail to tell the whole story.3 Trial registry with electronic publication of research protocols before inception of each trial4,5 and Web posting of complete data sets upon publication of the findings are 2 measures that could promote greater comprehensiveness and honesty in the reporting of trials.

Even if these measures are enacted, clinicians should remember that advertising exists to create a demand for a product and that claims made in advertisements may or may not be true. It is therefore imperative that all relevant information is on the table before clinicians and patients make decisions about the utility of medications. Despite increasing regulation, more remains to be done, and "caveat emptor" still applies.

Footnotes

Competing interests: None declared.


References

  1. Cooper RJ, Schriger DL. The availability of references and the sponsorship of original research cited in pharmaceutical advertisements. CMAJ 2005;172(4):487-91.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  2. New database provides doctors and patients unprecedented access to clinical study information for marketed medicines [press release]. Washington: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association; 2004 Sept 7. Available: www.phrma.org/mediaroom/press/releases/07.09.2004.1063.cfm (accessed 2005 May 18).
  3. Smith R. Medical journals are an extension of the marketing arm of pharmaceutical companies. PLoS Med 2005;2(5):e138.
  4. De Angelis C, Drazen JM, Frizelle FA, Haug C, Hoey J, Horton R, et al; International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Clinical trial registration: a statement from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. CMAJ 2004;171(6):606-7.[Free Full Text]
  5. De Angelis CD, Drazen JM, Frizelle FA, Haug C, Hoey J, Horton R, et al. Is this clinical trial fully registered? A statement from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. CMAJ 2005;172(13):1700-2.[Free Full Text]




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