Drug companies defend TV advertisements before Congress

A government investigator from the General Accountability Office told lawmakers Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration reviews only a small portion of the advertising materials it receives.

House Democrats have frequently accused FDA of not doing enough to ensure the safety of food and drugs.

But representatives for the drug industry say the Democrats' criticism of FDA's oversight of the drug industry is primarily driven by political motives.

"It's all about politics, not advertising," said John Kamp, director of the Coalition for Healthcare Communication, a lobbying group for drug and media companies. "They hold a hearing so they can pretend their guys would do a better job running the agency than the Republicans."

The FDA is headed by a Republican commissioner appointed by the White House.

While consumer-directed advertising is getting more of Washington's attention, industry data suggest it may be fading as an industry priority.

Ad expenditures declined 3 percent last year to $5.3 billion, according to Nielsen Co. It was the first drop in the industry's history.