What does the Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987 address?

The Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987 primarily addresses the handling of drug samples and the necessary record-keeping associated with them. This legislation was enacted to prevent the diversion of prescription drugs from legitimate channels into illegal markets. It includes provisions that regulate how pharmaceutical companies distribute samples, ensuring that they are provided only to licensed practitioners, and mandates that detailed records be maintained on the distribution and use of these samples. This focus on drug sample integrity helps to prevent potential misuse and protects both healthcare providers and patients from counterfeit or diverted medications.

In contrast, while advertising requirements for new drugs and approval processes for over-the-counter drugs are important aspects of pharmaceutical regulation, they fall under different laws and regulations outside the scope of the Prescription Drug Marketing Act. Wear-out medications, which might refer to those that are expired or have been recalled, are also not directly addressed by this act, which instead focuses on the legitimate distribution and record-keeping of drug samples.