Drug promotion: the Third World revisited.

In 1973 and 1980 surveys, much of the promotion of prescription drugs in the Third World was found to be marked by gross exaggeration of clinical claims and glossing over of possible serious or fatal adverse reactions. In an expanded survey of the information distributed in 1984 to physicians in the United States, the United Kingdom, and 28 developing nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, striking changes were noted. Many of the pharmaceutical firms were found to be showing more restraint in limiting their claims in the Third World to those which can be supported by scientific evidence, and far more willingness to disclose serious hazards. The companies discarding a double standard in drug promotion have apparently not suffered any significant loss of profits. There is, however, evident need for further improvement by both multinational and domestic companies. The present study covered 1069 products representing 63 drug entities and fixed combinations, marketed by 303 companies.