Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Ban Prescription Drug Advertising

Sanders and King propose sweeping restrictions on direct-to-consumer marketing

Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine) have introduced legislation that would ban pharmaceutical companies from advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers across all platforms, including television, print, digital media, and social networks.

The bill aims to prohibit all promotional communications targeting consumers, marking a broader approach than King’s earlier proposal to ban ads for newly approved drugs during their first three years on the market.

Sanders criticized the prevalence of what he called “misleading and deceptive” drug ads, while King cited concerns about marketing’s influence on prescribing practices and drug costs. The U.S. and New Zealand are currently the only countries that allow direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising.

The legislation follows public calls by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to eliminate drug commercials, which he argues contribute to overmedication and influence public perception.

Industry groups oppose the measure, saying consumer ads raise awareness of treatment options and promote patient engagement. Pharmaceutical advertising remains a major expenditure; in 2023, companies spent hundreds of millions on campaigns for drugs like Skyrizi and Wegovy. Ads for prescription drugs accounted for nearly a quarter of ad time on major news networks in the first half of 2025.

Legal challenges are expected if the bill advances, as courts have historically protected commercial speech under the First Amendment. Still, the proposal adds to growing legislative interest in curbing pharmaceutical marketing practices.

This story originally reported exclusively by WSJ