News Brief: English
Summary
Pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing criticism for their ‘disease-awareness’ advertising campaigns promoting weight-loss treatments. While the ads don’t name their specific drugs, Wegovy and Mounjaro, experts argue they skirt advertising laws for prescription medicines to boost profits, potentially distorting public health messages.
Key Points
- Controversial Advertising: Novo Nordisk (“Tried Everything?”) and Eli Lilly (“What’s Weighing You Down?”) run ads encouraging people to discuss weight with doctors, without naming their prescription drugs.
- Skirting Regulations: This “disease-awareness” advertising pushes the boundaries of TGA rules that prohibit direct-to-consumer ads for prescription medicines.
- Expert Criticism: Experts call the tactic “unethical,” arguing it medicalizes obesity, undermines public health messaging, and aims primarily to increase drug sales.
- Company Defense: The companies state the campaigns aim to raise awareness of obesity as a chronic disease and reduce stigma, complying with all regulations.
- PBS Applications: Both companies are seeking or planning to seek subsidies for their weight-loss drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to reduce patient costs.
新闻简报：中文
总结
制药巨头诺和诺德和礼来公司因其推广减肥治疗的”疾病认知”广告活动而面临批评。尽管广告没有提及他们的特定药物Wegovy和Mounjaro，但专家认为，这些广告游走在处方药广告法的边缘以提升利润，并可能扭曲公共卫生信息。
关键点
- 争议性广告： 诺和诺德（”试过一切方法？”）和礼来（”是什么拖累了你？”）投放广告鼓励人们与医生讨论体重问题，但未提及他们的处方药。
- 规避法规： 这种”疾病认知”广告游走在TGA（澳大利亚药品管理局）规定的边缘，该规定禁止直接向消费者进行处方药广告。
- 专家批评： 专家称此策略”不道德”，认为它将肥胖症医疗化，破坏公共卫生信息，且主要目的是增加药品销售。
- 公司辩护： 公司表示，广告活动旨在提高对肥胖作为一种慢性疾病的认识并减少污名，且符合所有法规。
- PBS申请： 两家公司正在寻求或计划寻求将其减肥药纳入药品福利计划以获得补贴，从而降低患者费用。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2025-10-23/novo-nordisk-eli-lilly-accused-of-unethical-advertising/105888282