As noted above, the US is the only place, besides New Zealand, where pharma companies can directly advertise to consumers. Drug companies spent $10.8 billion in 2024 on direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising in total, according to a report from the advertising data firm MediaRadar. Realizing that the new regulations meant a much higher return on investment, TV pharma ad spending surged, and so did chronic diseases, autism, and mental disorders. Last year, 59% of the pharmaceutical industry’s expenditures were on TV advertising, making pharma the third-highest spending industry, according to MediaRadar. Administration officials said they’d also be taking a closer look at advertisements from telehealth companies, which operate differently from traditional pharma companies.