@FDA Gives Little Guidance 2 #Pharma re Social Media

The way that we communicate has changed. The rise in influence of social media is difficult for any marketing department to ignore. Use of social media as a marketing and advertising tool is increasing in the life sciences industry—pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology—as well. It is a powerful medium to provide information to a public that spends an enormous amount of time on computers, tablets and smart phones. FDA promotional rules significantly limit how life sciences manufacturers may promote their products.

The speed and interactive nature of social media, however, presents challenges to life sciences manufacturers. In this article, Loeb & Loeb partner Scott Liebman discusses the FDA’s recently released first draft guidance dedicated to “interactive media,” examining insights regarding FDA enforcements in interactive and social forums and identifying key areas that the Guidance document failed to address, leaving the industry still questioning and struggling.