The exchange of off-label information and the sharing of scientific evidence can sometimes have important public health benefits.

"Off-label" prescribing--that is, doctors prescribing drugs for purposes other than those expressly approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA--is often useful although little is known of its extent. In the last several years, nearly every major pharmaceutical company has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle allegations of...

Rigid adherence to restrictions on the exchange of off-label informationleads to failureto recognize that the sharing of scientific evidence can have important public health benefits.

On July 21, 1997,AEI and the American Cancer Societyreleased the results of a telephone survey of a representative sample of 200 practicing oncologists such as cancer specialists.

Appropriate off-label use of drugs that informs proper patient care is fostered by more communication of truthful information.

The FDA is restricting the speech of private drug firms. This may violate the First Amendment rights of drugs companies.

This week brought news that an inexpensive generic drug is remarkably effective in reducing congestive heart failure.

Controlling costs in the short run is a vital part of efforts to reform the U.S. health care system, but it should not come at the expense of future innovations.