Prescription drugs: a question
This isn’t a regular post, but a question.
I thought Canada had laws against advertising prescription drugs, but I keep getting this drug pushed at me on Twitter, both in French and English:
I looked it up. It’s a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis.
I don’t have MS, and I haven’t had any reason to read up on it. Even when I looked it up, I used a private browsing window on a non‑habitual browser, so’s not to leave tracks. So I don’t know why I would be targeted by a Twitter algorithm.
If anyone knows about the law on this, or anything else relevant, I’d be interested to hear about it.
Nicholas 11:31 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
The law allows advertising, but you cannot mention both the name of the drug and what it does. That’s why you got those Viagra and Cialis ads where they displayed the name (which everyone knows) but only vaguely alluded to what it does, or get ads with “talk to your doctor about high blood pressure or go to livingwithhighbp dot ca, there are solutions” without mentioning what. The idea is that companies have free speech rights, but not entirely, and there’s a government interest in preventing full direct advertising and instead getting you to talk to your doctor, not demand drugs of your doctor.
JP 11:44 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
I think you’re allowed to advertise certain prescription medications (e.g. schedule a) with restrictions to consumers (Ie just the name of the drug with a message to consult your doctor). In Canada, the PAAB regulates healthcare advertising https://www.paab.ca/
Kate 12:40 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
Oh yes, PAAB. I worked briefly for an agency that did some pharma work, and PAAB was like an evil god that had to be propitiated.
Thanks, JP and Nicholas.
Daniel 12:41 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
If I can shed some additional light: Canada has one of the highest — if not the highest — per capita levels of MS in the world. So while this does not appear to be targeted advertising — or well-targeted, at any rate — the drug company could do worse.
I also had to chuckle because I have seen this ad too. But I do have MS! So I just figured my browser was on to me. (Although this drug is not appropriate for me, as it happens.)
Tee Owe 13:18 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
Can’t comment on advertising regulations but yes, Canada has THE Highest per capita level of MS in the world – a dubious record – Canada also punches above its weight as regards MS research – chapeau!
Kate 13:36 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
Weird. (Sorry to hear that, Daniel.)
Are there any theories about why this is?
LJ 13:56 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) is more common among people who live in countries with temperate climates, such as the northern United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and southeastern Australia, than among those living in warmer zones.” More info: multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/risk-factors-for-multiple-sclerosis/climate/
Daniel 14:03 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
There are. Living farther from the equator seems to track with a higher risk (so countries such as Denmark and Norway also have above-average levels.) Probably related to less exposure to sunlight and therefore lower Vitamin D levels.
But! Of course it’s not quite that simple. Exposure to a common virus (Epstein-Barr) is also thought to play a key role. I think basically a few things have to line up and science is still sorting out in what order and to what degree these and other factors matter.
And in my case, I lived in a sunny, warm climate before age 18, which statistically “shouldn’t” make me at increased risk for developing MS. And yet here we are. Because of course even an “average” risk isn’t zero.
Ephraim 16:52 on 2022-07-23 Permalink
Don’t you remember the ads for Yasmin. All those smiling ladies. Cialis, with them buying expensive headphones for their son. Viagra’s “Good Morning” singing men and women. If you didn’t know what the drug was for, you would think they are all anti depressants