Trump Administration Sends 100 Cease-And-Desist Letters Targeting Misleading Drug Ads

President Donald Trump has launched a major crackdown on direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, issuing roughly 100 cease-and-desist letters and thousands of warning letters to drug companies for misleading ads, particularly those on digital and social media platforms. His administration is targeting ads that inadequately disclose drug risks, including those from companies like Hims & Hers Health, whose weight loss drug promotion has drawn bipartisan criticism for omitting safety information. The crackdown directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA to enforce existing regulations more aggressively and to close the 'adequate provision' loophole, which currently allows companies to provide abbreviated side effect information in ads while referring consumers elsewhere for full details. This effort aims to ensure that advertisements present fair, balanced, and complete information to protect patients and restore transparency in pharmaceutical marketing. While the administration is not pursuing an outright ban on drug ads due to potential legal challenges, it emphasizes stricter oversight to counteract overmedicalization and reduce drug costs. The campaign reflects a broader push by the administration, including efforts by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to reform pharmaceutical advertising practices and improve public health information.