According to a post over at EyeOnFDA, DDMAC issued this statement:
The Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising, and Communications (DDMAC) has been researching draft guidance topics on the following issues related to Internet/social media promotion of FDA-regulated medical products:
- Responding to unsolicited requests
- Fulfilling regulatory requirements when using tools associated with space limitations
- Fulfilling post-marketing submission requirements
- On-line communications for which manufacturers, packers, or distributors are accountable
- Use of links on the Internet
- Correcting misinformation
I am not sure where this statement was made or to whom exactly, but I'll take it at face value.
This delay does not bode well for all of us expecting action from the FDA. With the new, Republican-controlled Congress coming into session next year, "Lame Duck" (or Cooked Goose) FDA officials are likely to be summoned before Senate and House committees to testify and to be grilled by Republicans. FDA may have to defend a lot of its recent regulatory actions. Obviously, Republicans favor less regulation and not more regulation. This may set the atmosphere within the FDA to be less vigilant regarding the regulation of drug advertising in general and Internet advertising in particular.
Also, political battles are likely to rage during the next Congress regarding recent online privacy initiatives by the FTC and the White House. The FDA may be caught up in these battles and be forced to be more cautious about issuing Internet guidelines. The announced delay may even be the first sign of caution. I note that the Center for Digital Democracy, for example, said FDA was incapable of policing privacy issues related to online health marketing (see "New Media Privacy Issues & Online Health Marketing").
The FDA will issue draft guidance on *at least one...* of these topics, which to me sounds as if we will have to wait even longer before the FDA issues full guidance. We're foolish if we think QI 2011 will end and everything will be magically crystal clear WRT SM and the FDA. Methinks this lack of guidance will drag well into 2011 and possibly beyond.
ReplyDeleteMeh.
ReplyDeleteI'd like clarity as much as the next person... but I think we have plenty of directional guidance to make good choices with social media engagement for Pharma. We might not like it (let's face it, Pharma is held accountable for a lot if it allows UGC) but I think it's clear.