The Challenge of the Internet

Abstract

With the advent of the Internet just a few years ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun to devise a policy on how pharmaceutical and other regulated companies may use it for the purpose of product promotion. Although this policy has not been put into writing yet, there is no question that FDA has jurisdiction over product-specific materials on the Internet. It is becoming increasingly clear to FDA that the regulatory issues posed by the Internet can be resolved within the framework of current laws and regulations. The regulatory challenge of product promotion on the Internet is not the only one pharmaceutical companies face, however. Companies must find ways to create compelling web sites that not only promote products but also provide valuable disease and treatment information for health care professionals and consumers.