Sanders, senators float ban on direct-to-consumer ads for prescription drugs

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Direct-to-consumer advertising for pharmaceuticals would be banned under new legislation introduced in the Senate.

Patients would get far fewer messages to “ask your doctor” under the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act. It would ban prescription drug advertising on television, radio, print, digital platforms and social media, said an announcement from sponsor Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

“The American people are sick and tired of greedy pharmaceutical companies spending billions of dollars on absurd TV commercials pushing their outrageously expensive prescription drugs,” Sanders said in a news release.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont)

“With the exception of New Zealand, the United States is the only country in the world where it is legal for pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs on television,” he said. “It is time for us to end that international embarrassment. The American people don’t want to see misleading and deceptive prescription drug ads on television. They want us to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and ban these bogus ads.”

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has supported a ban and the legislation would answer his call, Sanders said.

In 2024, the 10 largest drug companies made more than $100 billion in profits while the pharmaceutical industry spent more than $5 billion on television advertising. Prescription drug commercials now make up more than 30% of commercial time on major networks’ evening news programs. In the first quarter of 2025, Big Pharma spent more than $725 million advertising 10 drugs, according to Sanders’ office.

Meanwhile, studies have shown more than half of ads are misleading or false, and the drugs themselves cost more in the United States than in other countries. Some of the more recently known are the antidiabetes and antiobesity drugs Ozempic, almost $1,000 a month in the United States but $59 a month in Germany, and Wegovy, at $1,349 a month in the United States, but $92 a month in the United Kingdom.

Sen Angus King (I-Maine) is a co-sponsor.

“The widespread use of direct-to-consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies drives up costs and doesn’t necessarily make patients healthier,” King said in the news release. “The End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act would prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs to protect people. This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements.”

Joining Sanders and King as cosponsors of the legislation are Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois).