CBO Reports on Drugmaker Promotional Expenses For Detailing, Direct-to-Consumer and Other Venues

摘要

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a report saying some types of drug promotions may lead doctors to prescribe brand-name products more than generic alternatives, just days before the House Energy and Commerce Committee scheduled a hearing on prescription drug price inflation.rnThe report says drugmakers spent a total of $20.5 billion in 2008 on four promotional activities primarily for brand-name drugs - $12 billion on detailing, $4.7 billion on direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising, $3.4 billion on professional meetings and events and $0.4 billion on journal advertising.