Final answer:
The two acceptable ways pharmaceutical companies can associate with physicians are by promoting drugs only for FDA-approved uses and by engaging in pharmacovigilance activities after a drug is marketed.
Step-by-step explanation:
What are the 2 acceptable ways that pharmaceutical companies can associate with physicians? First, pharmaceutical companies can associate with physicians through the provision of drug information strictly for FDA-approved indications.
Advertising of a drug must be limited to the indication for which the drug was specifically approved. Moreover, advertisements must maintain a "fair balance" between the benefits and risks of the drug. The second acceptable way is through ongoing drug safety evaluations or pharmacovigilance.
Even after a drug has been approved by the FDA and reaches the market, companies are required to perform post-market surveillance to monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of their products, including effects in specific patient subgroups.