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Edwards Targets Drug Ads on TV

Oct 6, 2004  •  Post A Comment

If Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., wins his race for the White House, his administration will crack down on TV ads for prescription drugs, messages that industry critics charge are pushing up the costs of medicine for consumers.

That was the word from Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards, D- N.C., in his contentious televised debate Tuesday night with Vice President Dick Cheney. “We’re also going to stand up to the drug companies and do something about these drug company ads on television, which are out of control,” Sen. Edwards said.

The National Association of Broadcasters had no comment. But Dan Jaffe, executive VP of the Association of National Advertisers, said previous efforts by Sen. Edwards to crack down on the ads were defeated by bipartisan votes on the Senate floor.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Mr. Jaffe said. “Prescription drug advertising is in fact saving lives.”