Drug industry launches ad campaign aimed at lawmakers

The pharmaceutical industry is ramping up a new advertising campaign designed to improve its reputation with federal lawmakers as it lobbies against any effort to rein in prescription costs. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA reports it intends to spend several million dollars this year on ads that emphasize the industry’s role in developing new drugs and advancing medical science. PhRMA wants to target federal and state lawmakers, policy analysts and other political “influencers,” says Robert Zirkelbach, senior vice president of communications at PhRMA.