Pharmaceutical companies spent more than $3.1 million dollars in Vermont last year, all in the hopes of being able to influence doctors to prescribe their drugs. According to a new report issued by the Attorney General’s office, that number is up 33% from last year.
Vermont is one of only a handful of states nationwide that requires drug companies to report their marketing expenses in the state. Such payments include consulting fees, travel, gifts and money for lectures. But the figure does not include free drug samples or payments for clinical research studies.