Social media and drugs
Social media and drugs on the independent third party, many companies have to address misinformation on their products. The reason to address is due to the increasing domination from the social media, medical device and pharmaceutical companies. They use this media as a way of promoting and creating sensitivity of their products. Most of the companies have not yet start misinformation guidance as they are waiting for FDA to give a direction of using social media. Back 1996, the FDA has been providing social media guidance promises. However, the agencies have gradually kept quiet about device and drug companies through promotion and advertising on the internet.
The FDA authority was expanded in various ways. This happened when President Obama signed a law concerning drug and food Administration safety. The passed law gave the FDA duration of two years to provide direction on the use of the internet in promoting medical products. The issuing of the three social media guidance draft highlighted; ways to submit social media promoting content to the FDA for review, another was to correct third party information; the third one was to show the use of media with character space disadvantages. There were limitations noted, but finally, there were advantages in the use of social media on device and drug promotion.
Another essential aspect of the draft guidance is to how the agency may determine when a company is responsible for the content post in different social media. This enables the company to stay updated with the media. The social media enable interaction from the internet users as the company interacts through the comments made, dialogue and responses. This makes the drug company be responsible for the comments or suggestions made on their behalf.
On its own website, the company can address misinformation guidance on their products. This can be made easier since the company does not have to send FDA copies of Facebook post and blog post which it makes. This requirement will be important to prevent a company from involving in promotion through social media.it would make it easier in amending issues. A company may use a protected password which cannot be easily accessed by FDA in their line of duty.it makes the company be the only which has access to their requirements. Specifically, the company can have to submit all the information concerning the company’s operations.
A firm should have to put into consideration some factors as he gives out the information. The intended information should be accurate and not misleading to the use of the products. Risk information must be presented together with the beneficial information within each individual message. Risk information should consist of a minimum of the most serious risks associated with the product. The information displayed should provide a way which allows direct access to a complete discussion. The importance of risk information should be comparable to the benefit information. The information given out must include the generic and brand name of the drug.
The purpose of the FDA warning letter suggested that the companies would be required to present the fair balance efficacy and risk in all promotional materials.it included the online materials and real-time posting. It means that any pharmaceutical company starts to engage in promotion through social media they should acquire complete presented information.
One of the warning letters sent to Institut Biochimiques SA. The letter was warning them against posting information about its drug Tirosint on the Facebook page with providing drug risk information. Due to this, the FDA believed that there was misleading information through Facebook, which didn`t communicate about any risk. The information was to give a risk on drug use and omitting a material fact.