• 28
  • January
    2012

Social media forums are increasingly informing the ways in which companies and consumers communicate. Understandably, when the consumers are also patients, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has some concerns with the ways in which they may be approached and responded to.

If not handled with care, customer inquires can lead to miscommunication or confusion about potentially dangerous drugs. The FDA has recently completed a draft of guidelines related to the ways in which pharmaceutical companies should interact with the public on social media sites. The FDA is responding to concerns on both sides of the patient-pharmaceutical company spectrum.

First, when patients have concerns about their medications and other related issues, it is important that they do not receive biased, incomplete or misleading information. In addition, companies want to avoid liability for inappropriately communicating with the public.

The guidelines are still in draft form, and companies are requesting even more guidance in the near future. Highlights from the initial draft include the following advice to drug companies:

  • Respond to requests from consumers/patients for information about drugs in a nonpublic format
  • Respond to inquiries from healthcare providers regarding off-label drug uses in a nonpublic format
  • Respond to questions sent through social media sites by directing the concerned party to one-on-one assistance from the company
  • Answer only what is asked and keep responses scientific

While pharmaceutical companies are concerned that the FDA guidance does not give them enough information, the draft is a long-anticipated first step in addressing important issues. Patients crave information on how their prescriptions may affect them. Social media provides forums in which patients can potentially access this information.

However, pharmaceutical companies must first feel comfortable with the liability issues that accompany giving out information over social media sites before safe, valuable information can be communicated.

Source: American Medical News, "FDA issues first social media rules for drug companies," Pamela Lewis Dolan, Jan. 25, 2012