Drug industry presses FDA to allow more online ads

WASHINGTON (AP) - Drug companies are looking to move more of their advertising online, as they try to capitalize on the popularity of sites like Twitter and Facebook.

By: Associated Press | WNCT
Published: November 12, 2009

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Drug companies are looking to move more of their advertising online, as they try to capitalize on the popularity of sites like Twitter and Facebook.
The Food and Drug Administration today opens a two-day meeting on Internet marketing. The FDA is agreeing to consider new rules for online ads after the drug companies complained that current guidelines for traditional media - which require a detailed list of possible side effects - have left them hamstrung on the Web.
Industry observers say companies have largely steered clear of the Web for fear of running afoul of FDA regulators who have not defined rules on operating online.
Last April, the FDA fired off warning letters to Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and a dozen other drugmakers for search engine ads that didn't mention drug risks.
Most of the industry's roughly $4.5 billion in annual marketing is still spent on traditio