4. Spending on drug advertising from 1997 - 2005 Prescription Drugs: Improvements Needed in FDA's Oversight of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising ', GAO report Number GAO-07-54, December 14, 2006 Year Spending on DTC advertising Spending on promotion to physicians Retail value of samples R & D 1997 $1.1 $3.9 $6.0 $15.5 2000 $2.5 $5.6 $8.5 $21.4 2003 $3.3 $7.4 $13.5 $27.1 2004 $4.0 $7.8 $15.9 $29.8 2005 $4.2 $7.2 not available $31.4 Avg annual % increase 19.6 9.0 14.9 9.3 Total % increase, ‘97-’05 296.4 86.0 162.4 103.3