The Iowa Pharmaceutical Advertising Transparency and Consumer Protection Act establishes new regulations for the advertising of prescription drugs and vaccines, set to take effect on January 1, 2027. Under this Act, pharmaceutical companies must clearly and audibly disclose the average retail price for a standard thirty-day supply or the cost of a full course of treatment in their television advertisements. Additionally, they are required to disclose all known common and serious side effects and contraindications in plain language, ensuring equal visual and auditory prominence. Furthermore, advertisements for prescription drugs cannot be aired until at least twelve months after their approval by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Act also mandates that any government-sponsored television advertisements for prescription drugs or vaccines must include similar disclosures regarding side effects and contraindications, regardless of the manufacturing company. Violations of these provisions are classified as unlawful practices under the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act, allowing the attorney general to impose civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation, seek injunctive relief, and publicly disclose violative conduct. The attorney general is empowered to enforce these regulations and may adopt necessary rules for implementation, with all collected fines directed to the consumer education and litigation fund.