Advertising can play a role in prevention and early treatment

Although industry critics may downplay the value of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements, we believe that DTC advertising, when done correctly, can play an important role in disease prevention and early treatment.

It’s our opinion that DTC advertisements (which are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA]) help consumers take more control of their health care decisions by:

• Encouraging patients to speak to their physicians about diagnoses, treatment options, and the importance of taking medicines as directed
• Giving patients important health information to help inform their health choices
• Making consumers aware of the number of medication options available for their condition

Much research, dialogue, creativity, and testing goes into the development of any AstraZeneca product advertising campaign. We continually look for ways to improve our DTC advertising efforts, so consumers can better understand the benefits and risks associated with our products and be proactive in health care discussions with their physicians.