Spending on Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Takes a Nosedive Why Drug Companies Are Abandoning DTC
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising took a nosedive in 2012. According to data from cegedim Strategic Data, DTC spending decreased by 22% in 2012 compared to 2011.
The decline in DTC spending has been more or less steady since the 2006 when the industry spent more than $5.4 billion. What is causing the whimpering end of DTC?
As many experts have pointed out, there are several likely causes, including the recession of 2007-2008, shrinking pipeline (fewer new drugs means fewer ads), and the rise of generics (which generally are not advertised).
This article reviews data that supports one cause not often mentioned: the shift to developing drugs for small populations of patients (so-called “orphan” drugs) and complex biologics, which may also be targeted to small populations.
Topics include:
- The Downward Spending Spiral
- Execs Think It’s Time to Trim DTC
- What Are the Causes?
- Rise of Biologics
- A Change in Paradigm
- Targeted Advertising
- Figure: Annual Changes in Channel Spending (2011-2012)
- Figure: DTC Measured Media Ad Spend (2006-2012)
- Figure: Peak Year Sales of Top Drugs
- Table: Promotional Spending on Biologics (2010)
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PMN1203-03
Issue: Vol. 12, No. 3: 18 March 2013
