DTC advertising increases people's awareness of diseases and available treatments. Studies show DTC advertising brings patients into their doctor's office and starts important doctor-patient conversations about health that might otherwise not have happened.

But we also understand that people sometimes have opinions about prescription medicine advertising. We want to hear from you, so we’ve created the Office of Accountability, which accepts comments from the public.

PhRMA's Guiding Principles for Direct-to-Consumer Advertising are our commitment to improving the educational value of prescription medicine advertisements. We want to provide patients and health care professionals with the latest accurate information about health, disease, treatment options, and prescription medicines, including how they should be used and potential risks and side effects.

Our DTC Guiding Principles are a balanced approach to advertising that empowers patients and their doctors with information. Because knowledge is the best medicine of all.

In a major policy speech before the American Legislative Exchange Council’s 32nd Annual Meeting this evening, PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin will announce the pharmaceutical industry's "Guiding Principles" on direct-to-consumer advertising.

PhRMA Chief Medical Officer Paul Antony testified before Congress at a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging on direct-to-consumer advertising and submitted a written statement.