Podcast: Is it Time to Ban Direct-to-Consumer Pharma Ads?

By Cameron English and ChuckDinerstein — Oct 02, 2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s supporters are eager to rein in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads, claiming they mislead Americans about important health topics. But this anti-pharma coalition faces an awkward dilemma. After pushing regulatory rollbacks at FDA last year, they're now hindered by the very limitations on agency authority they demanded. Do we need to ban pharma ads, and is there a viable way to do it?

Image: ilgmyzin

Join Cameron English and Dr. Chuck Dinerstein on Episode 136 of the Science Dispatch podcast as they tackle the ethics of drug advertising.

From Snake Oil to Social Media: FDA Rulemaking Meets Legal Headwinds

Direct-to-consumer drug ads have long blurred the line between patient empowerment and corporate persuasion, but the FDA is now moving to rein in misleading tactics on TV and social media. However, free speech protections and post-Chevron limits on agency authority are in play.

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Cameron English

Director of Bioscience

Cameron English is a writer, editor and co-host of the Science Facts and Fallacies Podcast. Before joining ACSH, he was managing editor at the Genetic Literacy Project.