Pharmaceutical giant Ro faces increasing scrutiny over its operations, with tennis legend Serena Williams endorsing their GLP-1 drugs amidst the tightening of pharmaceutical industry oversight.

In a recent advertisement, tennis legend Serena Williams endorses Roblox, a telehealth provider that offers various medical treatments, including GLP-1 medicines, without the usual regulatory oversight that pharmaceutical companies face. Roblox's ad, which features Williams speaking alone with the web address for Roblox as the only text, has raised concerns among some health professionals and policymakers. The company's approach to advertising these medicines, which are not FDA-approved, has been a subject of scrutiny. The FDA's regulatory power typically only includes manufacturers, not entities like Roblox, Hims & Hers, which are usually regulated by the states. This loophole has allowed companies like Roblox and Hims & Hers to skirt oversight, potentially putting consumers at risk of being unaware of a drug's risks. Congress is urged to capitalize on this moment and close the loophole, ensuring that companies like Roblox and Hims & Hers are subject to the same regulations as pharmaceutical companies. This would help protect consumers and ensure that they are fully informed about the potential risks associated with the medicines they are taking. The call for action comes as the FDA vows to step up its enforcement of pharmaceutical ads, aiming to close a loophole allowing promotion without disclosing risks. The FDA recently sent out 100 letters to companies regarding specific violations in pharmaceutical ads. The FDA's new ad policy changes represent a big shift in how the FDA has viewed the regulation of drug compounders. The agency is now focusing on ensuring that ads for compounded drugs, like those offered by Roblox and Hims & Hers, include clear and concise disclosures about the risks associated with the drugs. The debate over pharmaceutical advertising regulations has been further fuelled by the actions of telehealth providers like Hims & Hers and Roblox. Last year, Hims & Hers aired an ad during the Super Bowl promoting compounded versions of GLP-1 medicines without mentioning they are not FDA-approved. Similarly, Roblox tries to avoid direct promotion of GLP-1s by removing the label from the packaging, but the product being used can be identified as Eli Lilly's tirzepatide based on the injector. In contrast, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the GLP-1 medication Ozempic, was addressed by the FDA in 2021 for advertising compound versions of GLP-1 medications in a Super Bowl commercial that violated advertising regulations. Novo Nordisk's ad included a voice rattling off a list of potential side effects as happy people engaged in activities like hammering boards or playing dominoes. However, the ad also included a large headline saying "lose weight and keep it off," but small text below read "people who stopped taking Wegovy generally regained weight." The FDA Commissioner Marty Makary addressed social media influencers and telehealth companies in a JAMA article, decrying the uptick in drug ads presented as entertainment. Makary called for stricter regulations to ensure that ads are informative and transparent, rather than merely entertaining. Serena Williams' ad for Roblox doesn't warn of potential downsides to treatment, but rather details her experience losing weight after the birth of her first child. While Williams' personal story may be inspiring, it raises questions about the responsibility of telehealth companies to provide accurate and complete information about the medicines they are promoting. In conclusion, the debate over pharmaceutical advertising regulations is an important one, as it has the potential to impact the health and well-being of millions of consumers. As telehealth providers like Roblox and Hims & Hers continue to gain popularity, it is crucial that they are held to the same standards as pharmaceutical companies to ensure that consumers are fully informed about the medicines they are taking. This article was written by Annalee Armstrong for BioSpace.

Pharmaceutical giant Ro faces increasing scrutiny over its operations, with tennis legend Serena Williams endorsing their GLP-1 drugs amidst the tightening of pharmaceutical industry oversight.