Four UK pharma firms breach ABPI Code

Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim have breached the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code of Practice in advertisements.

All four companies have been ruled in breach of Clause 2 by The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), which operates the Code, and are required to issue a corrective statement or will be given a public reprimand.

According to the PMCPA, a Novartis press release about Femara (a prescription only medicine) was misleading, raised unfounded hopes of successful treatment and would, in effect, encourage patients to ask their health professional to prescribe it.

As a result Novartis was in breach of Clause 2 - Bringing discredit upon and reducing confidence in the pharmaceutical industry; Clause 9.1 - Failing to maintain high standards; and Clause 22.2 - Issuing misleading information and encouraging members of the public to ask their health professional to prescribe a specific prescription only medicine.

Novo Nordisk promoted a medicine in the UK prior to the grant of its marketing authorisation.

The PMCPA said the company had breached Clause 2 and Clause 3.1 - Promoting a medicine prior to the grant of a marketing authorisation which permits its sale or supply. In addition, the company had breached Clause 9.1 and Clause 22.2.

Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim placed an insert in Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, which was deemed to constitute disguised promotion. The companies were each ruled to be in breach of Clause 2 and Clause 12.1 - Disguising promotional material and activities.

The companies were each ruled to be in breach of Clause 2 and Clause 12.1 - Disguising promotional material and activities.