Washington, D.C. – Senators Bernie Sanders and Angus King have introduced groundbreaking legislation aimed at banning prescription drug advertising across a wide range of media platforms. Announced on June 12, 2025, the End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act seeks to eliminate advertisements for prescription drugs and biologics from television, radio, print, digital platforms, and social media.
The United States, alongside New Zealand, stands as one of the few countries permitting pharmaceutical advertising on television. Senator Sanders criticized this practice, labeling it an “international embarrassment” and a tool for the pharmaceutical industry’s greed. “The American people don’t want to see misleading and deceptive prescription drug ads on television,” Sanders stated. “They want us to take on the greed of the pharmaceutical industry and ban these bogus ads.”
In 2024 alone, prescription drug advertisers spent over $5.15 billion on linear TV advertisements, making up 11.6% of total ad spending on national broadcast and cable networks, according to data from iSpot.tv. These ads generated over 413 billion impressions and accounted for significant segments of sports and news programming.
Senator King emphasized that these direct-to-consumer advertisements drive up drug costs without necessarily improving patient health. “The End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act would prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs to protect people,” he asserted. “This bill is a great step to ensure that patients are getting the best information possible and from the right source: their providers and not biased advertisements.”
The legislation has garnered support from key figures such as Democratic Senators Chris Murphy, Peter Welch, Jeff Merkley, and Dick Durbin. It follows consistent calls from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a ban on prescription drug advertising.
Moreover, the Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing estimates that eliminating pharmaceutical advertising could increase federal tax revenues by $1.5 to $1.7 billion annually from the largest pharmaceutical companies operating in the U.S.
As President Donald Trump’s evolving tariff policies add complexity and caution for advertising spending, this legislative push represents a significant shift in addressing drug pricing reform. The proposal comes at a time when drug prices in the U.S. are among the world’s highest, with stark disparities in pricing compared to international markets. For instance, the diabetes medication Ozempic costs nearly $1,000 a month in the U.S., whereas it is significantly cheaper in countries like Germany and France.
The End Prescription Drug Ads Now Act represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to reform pharmaceutical advertising and control drug costs, promising to reshape how drug information is disseminated to the public.
