Today, I attended via webcast the FDA’s hearings on the use of social media to promote medical devices and drugs. The hearings started at 8:00 this morning and I listened uninterrupted until around 3:00, and then off and on after that. The speakers included drug companies (including some that also make cosmetics, such as Johnson & Johnson), medical device manufacturers and suppliers, physicians groups, health-focused websites and bloggers (all sponsored by drugs and medical device companies), industry and advertising trade organizations, public interest and consumer groups, attorneys and social media strategists.
An “individual consumer” is listed as a speaker, and I presume she will speak tomorrow. Each speaker spoke for an allotted period of time (some were allotted a lot more time than others), and the FDA officials present were given a chance to ask questions after each presentation. The FDA representative were fully engaged and asked a lot of good questions on all sides of the issues presented. The hearings will conclude tomorrow but I will not be able to attend. The FDA has promised to make a full transcript publicly available (though it’s not clear whether there will be a charge for them). When it does, I will share the link with you, along with more of my impressions. Continue Reading…
