PELORA Research · Resource
Health Ad Policy Tracker
Last verified 1 October 2026
A dated record of the rules that decide what health and wellness businesses can advertise. Each entry quotes the platform’s or regulator’s own page, links to it, and shows the day we read it.
About this tracker
A dated record, with the platform’s own words
Read this first. This page describes platform rules and federal statements as their official pages stated them on the day we read them. It is not legal advice. Rules change, and platforms review ads case by case, so nothing here means that any ad will be approved.
Who it is for. Clinic owners and administrators about to pay for health ads, agencies and in-house marketers who build and review them, and reporters and researchers who want the primary wording and a date to cite.
Why it exists. Health advertising rules sit on many separate pages, and they change. Google’s own policy change log lists 65 entries for 2026, across all of its policy areas, as of 1 October 2026. A rule you read last quarter may not read the same today, so every entry here carries the day it was read. Regenerative medicine comes first because PELORA works with regenerative medicine clinics.
Regenerative medicine
Stem cell, exosome, PRP, peptide and hormone therapy, by platform
At a glance, 1 October 2026. On the pages we searched, Google is the only one of the three ad platforms whose United States rules name stem cell therapy or PRP. It lists both as not allowed, with two exceptions. None of the three uses the word exosome or peptide on those pages. Otherwise Meta and Microsoft Advertising set rules on claims, certification, preapproval, targeting and audience age. FDA’s notification dated 6 December 2019 says there are currently no FDA-approved exosome products, and its alert dated 22 July 2020 says stem cell products generally require FDA approval.
Three pages name products rather than therapies. Google’s monitored drug list includes somatropin, depo-testosterone, androgel, testim and delatestryl among its names. Meta’s Community Standards, which Meta says advertisers must follow, restrict visibility of “Hormone products (e.g., testosterone boosters)” to adults 18 and older. Microsoft’s disapproved list has six entries with testosterone in the name.
The grid covers paid ads in the United States on three platforms. TikTok is not in this version (see Not read). Meta says advertisers must follow its Community Standards as well as its Advertising Standards, so the Meta column draws on both (entry M-08). Each cell links to the entries that hold the quotations.
Swipe the table sideways
| Therapy | Google Ads | Meta ads | Microsoft Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stem cell therapy | Named, not allowedTwo exceptions: FDA license holders, and educational content.G-01 G-02 | Not namedRules on cure claims, age and audiences still apply.M-01 M-02 M-05 | Not namedExperimental treatments are not accepted.MS-01 |
| Exosome therapy | Not namedThe cell and gene therapy examples are non-exhaustive.G-01 | Not namedRules on cure claims, age and audiences still apply.M-02 M-05 | Not namedExperimental treatments are not accepted.MS-01 |
| PRP | Named, not allowedListed with stem cell therapy under cell and gene therapies.G-01 | Not namedThe page does not say which category PRP falls under.M-01 | Not namedExperimental treatments are not accepted.MS-01 |
| Peptide therapy | Not namedOnline prescription drug services and drug terms have their own rules.G-03 G-04 | Not namedAds that promote prescription drugs need Meta authorization.M-03 | Not namedOnline prescription sellers must be preapproved.MS-03 |
| Hormone therapy | Not named as a therapyThe monitored drug list includes somatropin, depo-testosterone, androgel, testim and delatestryl. Bidding on drug terms as keywords needs certification.G-04 | Hormone products namedThe Community Standards, which Meta says advertisers must follow, restrict visibility of “Hormone products (e.g., testosterone boosters)” to adults 18 and older. Prescription drug ads need Meta authorization.M-08 M-03 | Steroid names with testosterone, not allowedEntries with testosterone in the name are on Microsoft’s disapproved list, under “Disapproved steroids”. Online prescription sellers must be preapproved.MS-04 MS-03 |
Regenerative therapies by platform, United States, paid ads. Read 1 October 2026.
- Named, not allowedThe platform’s page lists the therapy, or the product the cell names, as not allowed.
- Named, with a limitThe page names a product or therapy and attaches a limit to it, such as an adult audience. The cell says which.
- Not namedWe found no mention of the therapy on the pages listed below. It does not mean allowed.
Not named does not mean allowed
A page that does not name a therapy says nothing about it by name. The Meta and Microsoft Advertising pages we read set rules about claims, certification, preapproval, targeting and audience age, and do not name stem cell, exosome, PRP or peptide therapy. We have not tested how any platform reviews a particular ad.
How we checked the “not named” cells
We saved the text of every page below on 1 October 2026 and counted how many times each of six words appears in it. Apart from Google’s cell and gene therapy page, where stem cell therapy and PRP are named, the only hits are the drug name depo-testosterone on Google’s monitored drug list, the line “Hormone products (e.g., testosterone boosters)” in Meta’s Community Standard, and six entries with testosterone in the name on Microsoft’s disapproved list. The counts do not read drug names, so they miss the other names on Google’s monitored list, which include somatropin, androgel, testim, delatestryl, semaglutide and tirzepatide. Counts cover the pages in this table only.
Swipe the table sideways
How many times each word appears in the text of each page we read on 1 October 2026. A zero means the word is not on that page.
The federal side
FDA’s consumer alert, dated 22 July 2020, says stem cell products are regulated by FDA and generally require FDA approval (FDA-01). Its notification dated 6 December 2019 says there are currently no FDA-approved exosome products (FDA-02). Those are FDA statements about the products, as of the dates of those pages, not platform rules. They are statements, not approval lists, and we did not check an approval list on 1 October 2026.
How to read an entry
Every entry has the same five parts
- The platform or regulator, and the rule in one plain sentence.
- A short quotation, word for word, from the official page. Where we leave words out, the gap is marked [...].
- The official URL. Check the page itself before you rely on an entry.
- The date the page states for the rule or its latest revision, in the page’s own words. Where a page shows no date, the entry says so and gives the day we read it.
- Verified: the day we read the page. Every entry in this version was read on 1 October 2026.
Entries, Google Ads
Google Ads (7 entries)
Google’s Advertising Policies Help pages for healthcare and medicines, personalized advertising and the change log. United States rules unless a line says otherwise.
Stem cell therapy and PRP are named as not allowed
The rule. Google Ads does not allow ads that promote cell or gene therapies, and the policy names stem cell therapy and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapies among its examples, subject to the two exceptions in G-02.
“Except as provided below in relation to the promotion of cell or gene therapies in the United States, the following is not allowed: [...] Promotion of cell or gene therapies, subject to the exception below [...] Stem cell therapy [...] Platelet rich plasma, also referred to as PRP therapies”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Speculative and experimental medical treatment, cell therapies, and gene therapies”.Note. The examples are labeled “non-exhaustive” on the page. Exosomes are not named.
History, from the platform’s change log
- October 2019Google announced the ban on speculative and experimental medical treatments, with stem cell therapy and PRP among the examples. The entry was posted in September 2019.
“In October 2019, the Google Ads Healthcare and medicines policy will be updated to prohibit advertising for speculative and experimental medical treatments. [...] Stem cell therapy, cellular (non-stem) therapy, gene therapy, and similar forms of regenerative medicine, platelet rich plasma, biohacking”
Google Ads Policy Help, change log, “Update to Healthcare and medicines policy (October 2019)”. https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/9396731 - 10 May 2021Google clarified that ads for cell or gene therapies were not allowed regardless of regulatory approval status.
“ads for cell or gene therapies are not allowed, regardless of regulatory approval status. There is no change to the effect of the policy.”
Google Ads Policy Help, change log, “Clarification to Speculative and Experimental Medical Treatment policy (May 2021)”. https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/10612453
- Date the page states
October 2019, from Google’s change log (posted September 2019). The policy page itself shows no date.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Two exceptions: FDA license holders, and educational content
The rule. In the United States Google allows promotion of FDA licensed or approved cell or gene therapies by the entities that hold the license or approval, and it allows ads for cell or gene therapies that are exclusively educational or informational.
“In the United States, Google allows the promotion of FDA licensed or approved cell or gene therapies by entities that hold the relevant FDA license or approval to market that product. [...] Google allows ads for cell or gene therapies that are exclusively educational or informational in nature, regardless of regulatory approval status.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Speculative and experimental medical treatment, cell therapies, and gene therapies”.History, from the platform’s change log
- 11 July 2022Google’s change log says the exceptions would begin rolling out on 11 July 2022. The entry was posted on 9 May 2022. The May 2021 wording (G-01 history) had no exception.
“This update will permit the promotion of FDA-licensed or approved cell or gene therapies in the United States by entities that hold the relevant FDA-issued license or approval to market that product. [...] We will begin rolling out the policy update on July 11, 2022”
Google Ads Policy Help, change log, “Update to Healthcare and medicines policy (July 2022)”. https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/12045877
- Date the page states
11 July 2022, from Google’s change log (posted 9 May 2022). The policy page itself shows no date.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Prescription drug services need Google’s approval
The rule. Services that prescribe, dispense or sell prescription drugs online, including telemedicine providers, can advertise only after they apply to Google and are approved.
“Google restricts the promotion of services related to the online prescribing, dispensing, and sale of prescription drugs. Businesses subject to this policy include but aren't limited to online pharmacies and telemedicine providers. [...] Advertisers must apply to serve ads for prescription drug services.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Healthcare and medicines”.Note. The policy is written about online prescribing, dispensing and sale, for example by telemedicine providers. It does not name peptide or hormone therapy.
- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Prescription drug names as keywords need certification
The rule. In campaigns targeting the United States, Canada or New Zealand, prescription drug terms may appear in ads and landing pages without certification, but bidding on them as keywords requires certification.
“While you don’t need to be certified in order to use prescription drug terms in ads and landing pages, you must be certified in order to keyword-target these terms.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Restricted drug terms”.“This is not an exhaustive list, and is intended to provide examples of the types of content monitored under the Restricted drug terms policy. [...] androgel [...] somatropin [...] testim [...] delatestryl [...] depo-testosterone”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Prescription drugs (list of monitored terms)”.Note. The monitored list, which Google calls non-exhaustive, includes somatropin, depo-testosterone, androgel, testim and delatestryl among its names. The words peptide and hormone therapy do not appear on the policy pages we read.
- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- Restricted drug termshttps://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15595717Prescription drugs (list of monitored terms)https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/2430794
Unapproved substances: hCG for weight loss, and disease claims for unapproved products
The rule. Google does not allow products containing hCG in relation to weight loss or weight control, and does not allow products that are not government approved and are marketed as safe or effective for preventing, curing or treating a disease or ailment.
“Products containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in relation to weight loss or weight control [...] Non-government approved products that are marketed in a way that implies that they're safe or effective for use in preventing, curing, or treating a particular disease or ailment”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Unapproved substances”.- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Health is a sensitive category: no advertiser-curated audiences, and limits on custom segments
The rule. Google lists invasive medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery, surgical procedures and injections, in its Health sensitive interest category. The page says advertisers can use predefined Google audiences and cannot use advertiser-curated audiences, and its footnote 4 says custom segment audiences that use sensitive creative assets or sensitive landing pages serve only with Display campaigns, to non-sensitive audiences or contextually, and are not eligible to serve in other campaigns.
“Content related to Health is a sensitive interest category and includes personal health content like: [...] Invasive medical procedures, including cosmetic surgery, surgical procedures, or injections [...] You can use predefined Google audiences. You can't use advertiser-curated audiences.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Health in personalized advertising”.“Custom Segment audiences using sensitive creative assets or pointing to sensitive landing pages will only serve with Display campaigns to non-sensitive audiences or contextually. All other campaigns using Custom Segment audiences with sensitive creative assets or landing pages won't be eligible to serve.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Health in personalized advertising (footnote 4)”.Note. The page’s non-exhaustive table lists customer match, your data segments, audience expansion and lookalike segments as advertiser-curated audiences, and in-market segments, affinity, demographics and detailed demographics (with exceptions), life events, location targeting and custom segments as predefined Google audiences. Footnote 4 is attached to custom segments. The parent article is titled “Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising”.
- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
June 2026 change log entry on Demand Gen and Discovery in sensitive categories
The rule. A Google change log entry posted 3 June 2026 says the Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising article now includes clarifying information about Demand Gen and Discovery campaigns. The article says these campaigns use advertiser-curated audiences by default and may be restricted from serving if targeting products and services that fall within sensitive interest categories.
“In June 2026, Google updated the Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising article to include clarifying information around Demand Gen and Discovery campaigns and potential serving implications for targeting products and services that fall within sensitive interest categories.”
Google Ads Policy Help, change log, “Updates to Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising (June 2026)”.“Discovery and Demand Gen campaigns use advertiser-curated audiences by default and may be restricted from serving if targeting products and services that fall within sensitive interest categories.”
Google Ads Policy Help, “Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising”.- Date the page states
Posted 3 June 2026, as Google’s change log states it.
Page text: (Posted on June 3, 2026)
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- Updates to Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising (June 2026)https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/17135641Restricted targeting in Personalized advertisinghttps://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/143465
Entries, Meta
Meta (8 entries)
Meta’s Advertising Standards, Community Standards, Business Tools Terms and Business Help Center articles.
Cosmetic procedures, including injectable treatments, are for adult audiences
The rule. Meta requires ads for cosmetic procedures to be targeted to people 18 or older, and its list of cosmetic procedures that may run at that age includes injectable treatments.
“Ads promoting or marketing cosmetic products, procedures or surgeries, must be targeted to people at least 18 years or older. [...] skin rejuvenation treatments, injectable treatments, chemical peels”
Meta Transparency Center, Advertising Standards, “Health and Wellness”.Note. Meta does not name PRP, stem cell or exosome treatments on this page, so which of its categories a given treatment falls under is not stated.
- Date the page states
The page’s change log lists revisions dated 22 July 2026 and 26 December 2024, as shown in US Pacific time.
Page text: CHANGE LOG [...] Jul 22, 2026 [...] Dec 26, 2024
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
No cure, heal or eliminate claims for a named list of diseases
The rule. Meta does not allow ads that claim, including through health professionals or organizations, to cure, heal or eliminate any of eleven named diseases, and says the bar does not apply to claims about treating or managing symptoms.
“Claims (including those from health professionals or health organizations) to cure, heal, or eliminate any of the following incurable diseases and/or terminal illnesses (exhaustive list): Diabetes, [...] Cancer, Autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, [...] Note: This does not apply to claims about treating or managing symptoms of these conditions.”
Meta Transparency Center, Advertising Standards, “Health and Wellness”.Note. The full list on the page has eleven conditions: diabetes, herpes, thyroid, psoriasis, Ebola, cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and HIV.
- Date the page states
The page’s change log lists revisions dated 22 July 2026 and 26 December 2024, as shown in US Pacific time.
Page text: CHANGE LOG [...] Jul 22, 2026 [...] Dec 26, 2024
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Prescription drug ads need Meta’s authorization
The rule. Meta allows prescription drug ads from advertisers that are actively certified with LegitScript, target only adults in eligible countries, and obtain authorization from Meta.
“Qualified advertisers that are actively certified with LegitScript can run ads that promote prescription drugs as long as they: [...] Only target people 18 years or older [...] Obtain authorization from Meta”
Meta Transparency Center, Advertising Standards, “Drugs and Pharmaceuticals”.Note. Online pharmacies and telehealth providers must be actively certified with LegitScript. Pharmaceutical manufacturers may instead apply through Meta’s internal review, which does not require LegitScript certification. Advertisers do not need written authorization for ads that educate about prescription drugs or that promote telehealth services generally. The page does not name peptide or hormone therapy.
- Date the page states
The page’s change log lists revisions dated 11 June 2024, 26 February 2025 and 31 October 2024, as shown in US Pacific time.
Page text: CHANGE LOG [...] Jun 11, 2024 [...] Feb 26, 2025 [...] Oct 31, 2024
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Ads cannot assert or imply that the viewer has a health condition
The rule. Meta does not allow ads that assert or imply personal attributes, and its list includes physical or mental health and medical conditions.
“ads must not contain content that asserts or implies personal attributes. This includes direct or indirect assertions or implications about a person’s [...] physical or mental health (including medical conditions)”
Meta Transparency Center, Advertising Standards, “Privacy Violations and Personal Attributes”.- Date the page states
The page’s change log lists a revision dated 27 June 2024, as shown in US Pacific time.
Page text: CHANGE LOG [...] Jun 27, 2024
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Health information may not be shared through Meta Business Tools
The rule. Meta’s Business Tools Terms bar sharing health information through Meta Business Tools, and bar naming or building events, conversions and custom audiences in ways that reflect, imply or are based on it.
“You represent and warrant that you will not share Business Tool Data with us that [...] includes or is based on, directly or otherwise, health information [...] The names you choose and criteria you establish for your events, conversions, and any custom audiences you create must not reflect, imply or be based on any category of information described in this Section 1.h.”
Meta, legal terms, “Meta Business Tools Terms”.- Date the page states
Effective 3 November 2025, as the page states it.
Page text: Effective date: November 3, 2025
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- https://www.facebook.com/legal/technology_terms
Custom audiences and custom conversions that reference health conditions are flagged
The rule. Meta says custom audiences and lookalike audiences that reference specific health conditions are flagged and cannot be used for running ad campaigns, and that flagged custom conversions cannot be used when creating new campaigns.
“references to specific health conditions (e.g., arthritis) or financial status (e.g., credit score) aren't allowed. Your custom audiences or lookalike audiences will be flagged and cannot be used for running ad campaigns if they include information that is not allowed under our terms.”
Meta Business Help Center, “Understand restrictions on certain custom audiences”.“references to specific health conditions, such as arthritis, or financial status, such as credit score, aren't allowed. [...] You won’t be able to use flagged custom conversions when creating new campaigns.”
Meta Business Help Center, “Understand restrictions on certain custom conversions”.- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- Understand restrictions on certain custom audienceshttps://www.facebook.com/business/help/1055828013359808Understand restrictions on certain custom conversionshttps://www.facebook.com/business/help/2455915321411996
Health and wellness data sources can face event limits, up to full restrictions
The rule. Meta lists Health and wellness among the data source categories that may have additional data sharing restrictions. The restriction types it lists include limits on specific mid and lower funnel events and full restrictions on sharing all events in specific regions or all regions, under which Meta Business Tools cannot be used for ads purposes where the restrictions are in place.
“Data source categories that may have certain data sharing restrictions include, but are not limited to: [...] Health and wellness: Is associated with medical conditions or specific health statuses, provider/patient relationships”
Meta Business Help Center, “About data source categories in Meta Events Manager”.“Restriction on certain standard events: Restricts the sharing of specific mid and lower funnel events. Full restrictions: Fully restrict the sharing of all events in specific regions or all regions. In these circumstances, Meta Business Tools cannot be used for ads purposes where restrictions are in place.”
Meta Business Help Center, “Understand data sharing restrictions based on data source categories”.Note. Meta says “may”. The pages do not say which restriction type applies to Health and wellness, or which events are limited for a given account. Meta says it will inform an advertiser by email and in Events Manager if it limits or fully restricts a data source.
- Date the page states
None stated on the page. In force as of 1 October 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- About data source categories in Meta Events Managerhttps://www.facebook.com/business/help/1402913027039332Understand data sharing restrictions based on data source categorieshttps://www.facebook.com/business/help/511197658391698
Advertisers must also follow the Community Standards, which restrict hormone products and cosmetic procedures to adults
The rule. Meta’s Health and Wellness advertising standard says advertisers must follow Meta’s Community Standards in addition to its Advertising Standards. The Community Standards restrict visibility to adults 18 and older for content that includes cosmetic products, procedures or surgeries and, under reproductive health or wellness products, “Hormone products (e.g., testosterone boosters)”.
“Advertisers must follow our Community Standards, in addition to our Advertising Standards.”
Meta Transparency Center, Advertising Standards, “Health and Wellness”.“For the following content, we restrict visibility to adults 18 years of age and older: [...] Cosmetic Products, Procedures, or Surgeries [...] Reproductive Health or Wellness Products [...] Hormone products (e.g., testosterone boosters)”
Meta Transparency Center, Community Standards, “Restricted Goods and Services (Community Standard)”.Note. The Drugs and Pharmaceuticals advertising standard carries a similar sentence. The line on hormone products gives testosterone boosters as its example and does not mention prescription hormone therapy. We have not tested how Meta applies this section to a particular ad.
- Date the page states
The Community Standard page’s change log lists a revision dated 10 September 2026, as shown in US Pacific time. It lists earlier revisions back to 2018. For the dates on the Health and Wellness advertising standard, see M-01.
Page text: CHANGE LOG [...] Sep 10, 2026 [...] Jul 23, 2025
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- Health and Wellnesshttps://transparency.meta.com/policies/ad-standards/restricted-goods-services/health-wellness/Restricted Goods and Services (Community Standard)https://transparency.meta.com/policies/community-standards/restricted-goods-services/
Entries, Microsoft Advertising
Microsoft Advertising (4 entries)
Microsoft Advertising’s Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy, its list of disapproved healthcare products and supplements, and its policy change log.
Experimental treatments are not accepted
The rule. Microsoft Advertising does not accept ads that promote clinical trials, experimental treatments or medical research solicitations.
“Microsoft does not accept ads that promote: [...] Clinical trials, experimental treatments, or medical research solicitations.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy”.Note. The page does not name stem cell, exosome, PRP, peptide or hormone therapy, so whether a given therapy counts as experimental is not stated.
- Date the page states
The policy page says it was last updated on 1 July 2026. Microsoft’s change log lists the experimental treatments rule under August 2023.
Page text: This page was last updated on July 1, 2026.
Page text: August 2023 Pharmacy and Healthcare Global Advertising for participation in clinical trials or experimental treatments is not allowed. Source: Microsoft Advertising Policies Change Log
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Health ads may not target consumers based on sensitive health information
The rule. Microsoft Advertising’s health policy requires advertisers not to target consumers based on sensitive health information and to follow its Legal, Privacy and Personalization policies.
“Not targeting consumers based on sensitive health information and complying with Microsoft's Legal, Privacy, and Personalization policies.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy”.- Date the page states
Shown near the top of the page.
Page text: This page was last updated on July 1, 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Online prescribing and prescription drug sellers must be preapproved
The rule. Microsoft Advertising requires online pharmacies, telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs and prescription drug manufacturers to be preapproved, and its United States section says online pharmacies must be accredited by NABP or LegitScript.
“Online pharmacies, telemedicine providers that sell prescription drugs, and prescription drug manufacturers must be preapproved in order to serve ads on the Microsoft Advertising network.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy”.“Online pharmacies, including pet pharmacies, that advertise prescription drugs to customers in the United States must be accredited by the National Association Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) or LegitScript.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy, United States market section”.Note. The page does not name peptide or hormone therapy.
History, from the platform’s change log
- January 2026Microsoft’s change log lists the preapproval requirement for online pharmacies and prescription drugs.
“January 2026 Pharmacy and Healthcare Global Advertisers who wish to run ads for online pharmacies or prescription drugs [...] Pre-Approval Process prior to serving in allowed markets.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Microsoft Advertising Policies Change Log”. https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60225/0
- Date the page states
The policy page says it was last updated on 1 July 2026. Microsoft’s change log lists the preapproval requirement under January 2026.
Page text: This page was last updated on July 1, 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
A disapproved list names steroids, including six testosterone-named entries
The rule. Microsoft Advertising does not accept ads that promote any of the healthcare products and supplements on its disapproved list. The list, which Microsoft calls non-exhaustive, has a “Disapproved steroids” section that includes six entries with testosterone in the name.
“Microsoft does not accept ads that promote: [...] Any of the healthcare products and supplements listed here.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy”.“Here are non-exhaustive lists of healthcare products and supplements that cannot be advertised through Microsoft Advertising.”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Disapproved Healthcare Products and Supplements”.“Disapproved steroids [...] 4-chlorotestosterone 4-dihydrotestosterone [...] Dehydrochloromethyl testosterone dehydrotestosterone Delta1-dihydrotestosterone [...] Desoxymethyl testosterone”
Microsoft Advertising Policies, “Disapproved Healthcare Products and Supplements”.Note. The word “here” in the policy page’s bullet links to the disapproved list. In the order the list gives them, the six entries with testosterone in the name are 4-chlorotestosterone, 4-dihydrotestosterone, Dehydrochloromethyl testosterone, dehydrotestosterone, Delta1-dihydrotestosterone and Desoxymethyl testosterone. The list does not use the words stem cell, exosome, PRP, peptide or hormone.
- Date the page states
The disapproved list page shows no date. The policy page that links to it says it was last updated on 1 July 2026.
Page text: This page was last updated on July 1, 2026.
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
- Official URL
- Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policyhttps://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60379/-1Disapproved Healthcare Products and Supplementshttps://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60227/0
Entries, FTC
FTC (3 entries)
The Federal Trade Commission’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, 16 CFR Part 465.
Fake or false reviews and testimonials are prohibited (16 CFR 465.2)
The rule. The FTC’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials makes it an unfair or deceptive practice for a business to write, create or sell a review or testimonial that materially misrepresents that the reviewer exists, used the product or service, or what the experience was.
“It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice and a violation of this part for a business to write, create, or sell a consumer review, consumer testimonial, or celebrity testimonial that materially misrepresents, expressly or by implication: (1) That the reviewer or testimonialist exists; (2) That the reviewer or testimonialist used or otherwise had experience with [...] or (3) The reviewer's or testimonialist's experience with”
eCFR, Title 16, Part 465, “16 CFR 465.2, Fake or false consumer reviews, consumer testimonials, or celebrity testimonials”.Note. Read through the eCFR public API, text as of 30 September 2026.
- Date the page states
Effective 21 October 2024. The Federal Register notice states the date. The eCFR version history for Part 465 shows no later amendment, as of its 30 September 2026 data.
Page text: This rule is effective October 21, 2024. Source: Federal Register notice, 89 FR 68034 (published 22 August 2024)
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Paying for reviews of a particular sentiment is prohibited (16 CFR 465.4)
The rule. It is an unfair or deceptive practice for a business to provide compensation or other incentives in exchange for, or conditioned on, reviews that express a particular sentiment, positive or negative.
“It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice and a violation of this part for a business to provide compensation or other incentives in exchange for, or conditioned expressly or by implication on, the writing or creation of consumer reviews expressing a particular sentiment, whether positive or negative,”
eCFR, Title 16, Part 465, “16 CFR 465.4, Buying positive or negative consumer reviews”.Note. Read through the eCFR public API, text as of 30 September 2026.
- Date the page states
Effective 21 October 2024. The Federal Register notice states the date. The eCFR version history for Part 465 shows no later amendment, as of its 30 September 2026 data.
Page text: This rule is effective October 21, 2024. Source: Federal Register notice, 89 FR 68034 (published 22 August 2024)
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Presenting reviews as complete while suppressing negative ones is prohibited (16 CFR 465.7)
The rule. A business may not materially misrepresent that the reviews displayed on its website represent most or all the reviews submitted when reviews are being suppressed based on their ratings or negative sentiment.
“(b) For a business to materially misrepresent, expressly or by implication, that the consumer reviews [...] represent most or all the reviews submitted to the website or platform when reviews are being suppressed ( i.e., not displayable) based upon their ratings or their negative sentiment.”
eCFR, Title 16, Part 465, “16 CFR 465.7, Review suppression”.Note. The rule says a review is not treated as suppressed if the criteria for withholding it are applied equally to all reviews without regard to sentiment. Read through the eCFR public API, text as of 30 September 2026.
- Date the page states
Effective 21 October 2024. The Federal Register notice states the date. The eCFR version history for Part 465 shows no later amendment, as of its 30 September 2026 data.
Page text: This rule is effective October 21, 2024. Source: Federal Register notice, 89 FR 68034 (published 22 August 2024)
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Not in this version: the FTC’s Health Products Compliance Guidance and its enforcement pages. The FTC site refused our automated reader on 1 October 2026, so we did not read them. See Not read.
Entries, FDA
FDA (2 entries)
Statements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about stem cell and exosome products, as of the dates its pages give. They are not ad platform rules.
FDA’s alert says stem cell products generally require FDA approval
The rule. FDA’s consumer alert says stem cell products are regulated by FDA and, generally, all stem cell products require FDA approval.
“Stem cell products are regulated by FDA, and, generally, all stem cell products require FDA approval.”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes”.Note. The next sentence of the alert says which stem cell products are FDA-approved. The page gives 9 April 2024 as the date its content is current, and we did not check FDA’s list of approved products on 1 October 2026, so this entry does not repeat that sentence.
- Date the page states
The page is dated 22 July 2020 and says its content is current as of 9 April 2024.
Page text: Date: July 22, 2020
Page text: Content current as of: 04/09/2024
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
There are no FDA-approved exosome products
The rule. FDA said on 6 December 2019 that there are currently no FDA-approved exosome products and that, as a general matter, exosomes used to treat diseases and conditions in humans are regulated as drugs and biological products subject to premarket review and approval requirements.
“There are currently no FDA-approved exosome products. [...] As a general matter, exosomes used to treat diseases and conditions in humans are regulated as drugs and biological products [...] subject to premarket review and approval requirements.”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Public Safety Notification on Exosome Products”.Note. FDA repeated the line “There are currently no FDA-approved exosome products” in its consumer alert dated 22 July 2020 (see FDA-01).
- Date the page states
The page is dated 6 December 2019 and says its content is current as of 6 December 2019.
Page text: December 6, 2019
- Verified
- 1 October 2026
Dated changes
The dates the pages state, newest first
Every date below comes from a page we read on 1 October 2026, in its own words. Meta shows change log dates that can differ by a day depending on the reader’s time zone, so we show them as displayed in US Pacific time. Entry numbers link to the quotation.
- 10 September 2026MetaChange log entry on the Community Standard for restricted goods and services, which includes the Health and Wellness section.M-08
- 22 July 2026MetaLatest dated revision in the change log of the Health and Wellness advertising standard.M-01
- 1 July 2026Microsoft AdvertisingThe Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy page says it was last updated.MS-01
- 3 June 2026Google AdsChange log entry posted, saying the Restricted targeting article now includes clarifying information on Demand Gen and Discovery campaigns in sensitive categories.G-07
- January 2026Microsoft AdvertisingChange log lists the preapproval requirement for online pharmacies and prescription drugs.MS-03
- 3 November 2025MetaBusiness Tools Terms effective, barring health information in Business Tool Data and in the names of events, conversions and custom audiences.M-05
- 26 February 2025MetaLatest dated revision in the change log of the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals advertising standard.M-03
- 21 October 2024FTCTrade regulation rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, 16 CFR Part 465, takes effect.FTC-01
- 27 June 2024MetaLatest dated revision in the change log of the Privacy Violations and Personal Attributes standard.M-04
- August 2023Microsoft AdvertisingChange log lists the rule that experimental treatments are not allowed.MS-01
- 11 July 2022Google AdsThe FDA-license and educational exceptions to the cell and gene therapy rule begin rolling out.G-02
- 10 May 2021Google AdsGoogle clarifies that cell and gene therapy ads were not allowed regardless of approval status.G-01
- 22 July 2020FDAConsumer alert on regenerative medicine products including stem cells and exosomes.FDA-01
- 6 December 2019FDAPublic safety notification on exosome products.FDA-02
- October 2019Google AdsBan on speculative and experimental medical treatments begins, with stem cell therapy and PRP among the examples.G-01
Also seen
Related pages we read but did not quote
These pages were opened on 1 October 2026. They are listed with their links and not quoted, so they are leads for a later version, not entries.
- Google Ads. Country updates to the Healthcare and medicines policy for India and New Zealand (April 2026) and Spain (posted 22 July 2026).https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/16990310https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/16985077https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/17219940
- Google Ads. Personalized advertising update posted 3 September 2026, about alcohol on YouTube. It states that targeting of health information related to alcohol stays prohibited under the Health category.https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/17598957
- Google Business Profile. Prohibited and restricted content page: content may not feature calls to action or offers for the sale of products or services subject to local legal regulations, and the list includes health and medical devices and regulated pharmaceuticals.https://support.google.com/business/answer/7400114
- Meta. Customer List Custom Audiences Terms, effective 3 December 2025, which say audience names and criteria must not include or be based on health information.https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/customaudience
- Microsoft Advertising. A United States rule that compounded weight loss drugs carry a compounded drug label, and the July 2025 change log entry about GLP-1 weight loss drug manufacturers.https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60379/-1https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60225/0
- FDA. Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies (June 3, 2021) and the Public Safety Alert posted 12/09/2019.https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/important-patient-and-consumer-information-about-regenerative-medicine-therapieshttps://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/public-safety-alert-due-marketing-unapproved-stem-cell-and-exosome-products
Not read
What this version does not cover
A page that does not open for our reader is left out. We do not try to get around an access block. These are not in this version. We tried to read them on 1 October 2026.
- FTC Health Products Compliance Guidance and the FTC’s enforcement pages on ftc.gov. The site answered our automated request with an access error.
- TikTok advertising policies. There are no TikTok entries in this version. They are withdrawn pending a read of TikTok’s Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals policy page in a browser. TikTok’s keyword moderation, anti-discrimination and policy hub pages answered a browser request with an access error.
- The eCFR and Federal Register web pages. Both sit behind a CAPTCHA gate that tells automated readers to use the public API. The FTC rule text in this tracker was read through the eCFR API, and its effective date through the Federal Register API.
Where every entry comes from
Sources
Every official page used for a quotation or a date in this tracker. All were read on 1 October 2026.
Google Advertising Policies Help
- Speculative and experimental medical treatment, cell therapies, and gene therapies https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15596627
- Update to Healthcare and medicines policy (October 2019) https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/9396731
- Clarification to Speculative and Experimental Medical Treatment policy (May 2021) https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/10612453
- Update to Healthcare and medicines policy (July 2022) https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/12045877
- Healthcare and medicines https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/176031
- Restricted drug terms https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15595717
- Prescription drugs (list of monitored terms) https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/2430794
- Unapproved substances https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/15595718
- Health in personalized advertising https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/16701855
- Updates to Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising (June 2026) https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/17135641
- Restricted targeting in Personalized advertising https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/143465
Meta
- Health and Wellness https://transparency.meta.com/policies/ad-standards/restricted-goods-services/health-wellness/
- Drugs and Pharmaceuticals https://transparency.meta.com/policies/ad-standards/restricted-goods-services/drugs-pharmaceuticals/
- Privacy Violations and Personal Attributes https://transparency.meta.com/policies/ad-standards/objectionable-content/privacy-violations-personal-attributes/
- Meta Business Tools Terms https://www.facebook.com/legal/technology_terms
- Understand restrictions on certain custom audiences https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1055828013359808
- Understand restrictions on certain custom conversions https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2455915321411996
- About data source categories in Meta Events Manager https://www.facebook.com/business/help/1402913027039332
- Understand data sharing restrictions based on data source categories https://www.facebook.com/business/help/511197658391698
- Restricted Goods and Services (Community Standard) https://transparency.meta.com/policies/community-standards/restricted-goods-services/
Microsoft Advertising
- Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Ad Policy https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60379/-1
- Microsoft Advertising Policies Change Log https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60225/0
- Disapproved Healthcare Products and Supplements https://help.ads.microsoft.com/#apex/ads/en/60227/0
Federal Trade Commission rule, read through eCFR and the Federal Register
- 16 CFR Part 465, Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials (sections 465.2, 465.4 and 465.7) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-465
- Federal Register notice, 89 FR 68034 (published 22 August 2024) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/22/2024-18519/trade-regulation-rule-on-the-use-of-consumer-reviews-and-testimonials
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Consumer Alert on Regenerative Medicine Products Including Stem Cells and Exosomes https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/consumer-alert-regenerative-medicine-products-including-stem-cells-and-exosomes
- Public Safety Notification on Exosome Products https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/public-safety-notification-exosome-products
How we read the pages
We opened each page on 1 October 2026 in an automated Chromium browser and saved its text. The FTC rule text and its effective date were read through the eCFR and Federal Register public APIs, the route the sites’ own access page names for automated readers. Each quotation was cut from the saved text by a script that checks it word for word, so a quotation here is not retyped.
PELORA Research, Study 01 reports what Google’s keyword review did in two accounts. It is our own observation, not a platform rule, so it is not an entry here.
Cite the page, the entry and the day
How to cite this page
How to cite this page: Durnford, P. (2026). Health Ad Policy Tracker. PELORA Research. Last verified 1 October 2026. https://peloramarketing.com/health-ad-policy-tracker
To cite one entry, link to its number, for example https://peloramarketing.com/health-ad-policy-tracker#g-01. Cite the official page and the day it was read alongside it, and check the official page before you rely on an entry.
What changed, and when
Update log
- 2 October 2026: TikTok entries withdrawn pending a browser read; Microsoft disapproved list added; Meta Community Standards scoped to ads. Entries touched: T-01 and T-02 withdrawn, MS-04 added, M-08 rewritten, and wording or sources changed in G-04, G-06, G-07, M-07, FDA-01 and FDA-02. The page now has 24 entries from five publishers. “Last verified” stays at 1 October 2026 because every entry was read that day.
- 1 October 2026, first version. Every entry read on 1 October 2026. Regenerative medicine grid first, then entries by platform, the FTC rule and FDA statements.
Later changes will be listed here, newest first, with the entry numbers they touch. “Last verified” at the top of the page is the day every entry was last read against its official page.
Questions about a specific account
This page cannot say how a platform will review your ad
If you run health ads and want a second read of an account or a plan, book a call. We do not promise approval of any ad.