FDA cracks down on drug companies’ use of web marketing
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reminding drug companies that they are required to disclose side effects or risks about their medications in advertising, even banner ads and Facebook “share” buttons. The agency recently required Novartis Pharmaceuticals to take down a Facebook Share button used to promote a cancer-fighting drug, saying it was “incomplete and misleading” and violated advertising disclosure requirements. Novartis removed the widget but says it will continue to discuss the parameters of web advertising and social media marketing with the FDA in order to fully understand the agency’s concerns.
Things are getting even uglier between two pharmaceutical companies whose oral contraceptives will soon go head-to-head in America. First, Bayer announced it was suing Teva Pharmaceutical Industries for prematurely pushing 
Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has closed its formal investigation into contraceptives containing drospirenone, following the death of one young woman and of another woman who is now severely disabled. The agency says that although the risk of thrombosis, or blood clots, is higher with this generation of contraceptives, the risk remains “within reasonable limits.” Swissmedic says the drug will remain on the market there but the drugs are required to have updated information on their label to reflect an increased risk of serious injury.