The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) released today updated Guiding Principles: Direct to Consumer Advertisements About Prescription Medicines (Guiding Principles), which will be effective April 15, 2019. These Guiding Principles replace the prior version.

Revisions to the Guiding Principles include a new principle 19 that all product-related direct to consumer (DTC) television advertising include direction where patients can find information about the cost of the medicine, including the list price and average, estimated or typical patient out-of-pocket costs. PhRMA also provided three new FAQs related to principle 19.

Life sciences companies should carefully consider the revisions to the PhRMA Guiding Principles, and make appropriate adjustments to policies, procedures and practices related to DTC advertising.

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