Bernie Sanders, Angus King Propose Drug Advertising Ban in Consumer Marketing
Sens. Bernie Sanders and Angus King have introduced new legislation that would ban prescription drug advertising on television, radio, print, digital platforms and social media.
The bill, known as the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act, would apply to all drugs and biologics, including those currently on the market.
'With the exception of New Zealand, the United States is the only country in the world where it is legal for pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs on television. It is time for us to end that international embarrassment,' Sanders said in a statement. 'The American people don't want to see misleading and deceptive prescription drug ads on television. They want us to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and ban these bogus ads.'
The lawmakers note that the 10 largest drug companies made more than 100 billion in profits last year, with the pharmaceutical industry spending over $5 billion on television ads.
They added that prescription drug commercials account for more than 30% of commercial time on major networks' evening news programs and that Big Pharma spent over $725 million advertising just 10 drugs in the first three months of 2025.
Additionally, the pair noted that the prices for drugs in the U.S. are among the highest in the world, with one in four Americans not able to afford the costs of the medicine their doctors prescribe.
For example, Novo Nordisk charges nearly $1,000 a month for Ozempic in the United States, compared to $59 in Germany, $71 in France, $122 in Denmark, and $155 in Canada, and $1,349 a month for Wegovy, compared to $92 in the United Kingdom, $137 in Germany, $186 in Denmark and $265 in Canada.
'The widespread use of direct-to-consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies drives up costs and doesn't necessarily make patients healthier,' King added. 'The End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act would prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs to protect people. This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements.'
The introduction of the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act follows repeated calls from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling for a ban on prescription drug advertising.
The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing estimates that prohibiting pharmaceutical advertising could increase federal tax revenues by $1.5 to $1.7 billion annually from 10 of the largest pharmaceutical companies operating in the U.S.
In addition to Sanders and King, cosponsors of the legislation include Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley and Dick Durbin.
More to come…
The post Bernie Sanders, Angus King Propose Drug Advertising Ban in Consumer Marketing appeared first on TheWrap.
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