 On July 8, 2019, shortly before it was to take effect, the rule was struck down by DC district judge Amit Mehta, who ruled that it overstepped the HHS' authority.Supporters of direct-to-consumer advertising argue that advertisements increase competition which leads to lower prescription drug prices and new development, citing, for instance, that between 1997 and 2001, spending on research and development in the U.S. increased 59% while spending on promoting drugs directly to patients increased 145%.However, other experts have asserted that funding for R&D is determined by several other factors.