DTC Advertising

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Empowering Patients With Information

At AstraZeneca, enhancing patients health is our top priority. One way we do this is through consumer advertising. Some argue consumer advertising does little more than convince people to use medicines they don’t need. We disagree.

It is our firm belief that consumer advertising can help to inform patients about the signs and symptoms of illness, treatment options, and the importance of talking openly with a doctor about health issues and concerns. Various surveys of US physicians sponsored by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suggest that such advertising has indeed helped patients to become more aware of health conditions and to be more active participants in their care.

Our mission: informing consumers with integrity

We recognize television and radio are powerful media that must be used responsibly. With that in mind, AstraZeneca has instituted strict guidelines governing the components of our consumer advertisements:

Ensure an appropriate balance between the benefit and risk information we deliver and clearly communicate such information so patients can have better-informed conversations with their doctors.
Provide accurate and clear information about medical conditions and the treatment options we offer in a straightforward and responsible manner.
Help patients without prescription drug coverage get the Astra Zeneca medicines they are prescribed by providing information on patient assistance programs.
Remind patients of the necessity of talking with their doctors, because only their doctors know which treatment is appropriate for them.

We also support the proposal for a mandatory requirement that pharmaceutical companies submit all direct-to-consumer advertising to the FDA for a timely review prior to its use. We believe this would help to protect the public from advertising that is inaccurate or misleading.

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