New Survey Finds Strong Public Interest in Prescription Drug Saf...(ty to pass common-sense laws ...),Health

"common-sense" laws governing how the FDA approves drugs

-- Despite public trust in the FDA, those surveyed are evenly divided on

the agency's overall performance:

-- 53% rate the FDA as excellent or good, while 47% rate it as only

fair or poor

-- Overall, 18-34 year olds are more positive to the FDA, while senior

citizens (especially men) are more negative

-- Only 8% of those surveyed have seen, read, or heard about the Food

and Drug Administration Revitalization Act (FDARA)

-- Those surveyed are divided on the question of whether or not FDA

reviews of new drugs should be funded by the pharmaceutical

industry - 47% in favor and 46% opposed

-- 54% believe that all prescription drugs sold in the U.S. have been

approved by the FDA, while 37% say just some of them have approval

-- Few of those surveyed have a clear understanding of where the FDA

receives its funding - 54% say it is from the government, 20% from

pharmaceutical companies, and 17% say it is from both

-- Most believe the biggest contributor to the cost of prescription

drugs is the profit margin (43%), while 28% say it is the cost of

marketing, and only 25% say it is the cost of research

The national telephone survey of 800 adults was conducted by The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies from September 4-6, 2007. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.46%.

To register for the press briefing or for more information, contact Katharine Perrow at 202-955-6222, kperrow@spectrumscience.com.

The survey results will be announced as part of A Dialogue on Prescription Drug Safety: Seeking Common Ground, a program presented by American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and FORA.tv to examine efforts by public policym
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