Does the FDA approve ads for prescription drugs before they are seen by the public?
• No, generally we do not. Except in unusual instances, we cannot require drug companies to submit ads for approval before they are used. Drug companies must only submit their ads to us when they first appear in public. This rule is the same whether the ads are aimed toward healthcare providers or consumers. This means that the public may see ads that violate the law before we can stop the ad from appearing or seek corrections to the ad. Consumers should know that they may not necessarily be able to tell whether any specific DTC ad includes false or misleading information.
