What is a DTC drug? The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising
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5 min read
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed its rules on broadcasting prescription drug advertising, leading to an explosion of promotional content targeting the general public. This created the modern environment for the **direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug**, a pharmaceutical product marketed directly to patients rather than solely to healthcare providers. Today, the U.S. and New Zealand are the only two countries that permit this form of prescription drug marketing, sparking both praise and controversy within the medical community.