The Lacuna Project

lacuna (n.) a gap in a record where something should be

Independent research. Not affiliated with any government, agency, or company.

Exhibit 992

Medical Marketing in the United States, 1997-2016

Exhibit 992 ยท Peer-reviewed study

Medical Marketing in the United States, 1997-2016

DTC prescription drug advertising increased from $1.3 billion (79 000 ads) to $6 billion (4.6 million ads [including 663 000 TV commercials])

Special communication using Kantar Media advertising data and IQVIA data, 2016 dollars. DTC prescription-drug advertising rose from $1.3 billion (79,000 ads) in 1997 to $6 billion (4.6 million ads including 663,000 TV commercials) in 2016; DTC advertising of all kinds from $2.1 billion to $9.6 billion. FDA violation letters for misleading drug marketing fell from 156 to 11. The read copy is a university-hosted PDF.

Source
Schwartz LM, Woloshin S, JAMA 321(1):80-96 (Dartmouth Institute)
Date
January 2019
Quoted from
Abstract, Findings, JAMA 2019;321(1):80
Grade
Peer-reviewed
Document
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.19320
Accessed
2026-11-10
Cited by
Findings citing this exhibit
Note
Read copy: https://csts.ua.edu/files/2025/06/jama_schwartz_2019_sc_180007.pdf. Confirm figures against the journal copy.

Cited by

Finding INF-1.6
Peer-reviewed A 2019 JAMA study reports that direct-to-consumer prescription-drug advertising grew from $1.3 billion (79,000 ads) in 1997 to $6 billion (4.6 million ads, 663,000 of them TV commercials) in 2016, in 2016 dollars, and that FDA violation letters for misleading drug marketing fell from 156 to 11.