Medicine adverts appeals process clarified
Rules covering the way in which pharmaceutical companies can appeal against complaints about their promotional activities have been clarified by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority.
Companies are reminded that appeals need to be lodged within 10 working
days of notification of an adverse ruling by the authority. Documents
submitted to support an appeal need to highlight new information and
not merely repeat points discussed in the original complaint. In addition,
it restated that a complaint of “bringing the industry into disrepute” is
reserved for the most serious cases, normally involving inappropriate
financial payments, threats to patient safety or repeated breaches of
the code of practice.
Disease awareness campaigns were among the complaints dealt with by the
PMCPA and reported in its quarterly review. Pfizer complained about information
about the Lilly Icos product Cialis (tadalafil) which appeared on the
NetDoctor website, saying that it promoted a prescription medicine to
the public. Lilly said that it did not have editorial control over the
website and the complaint failed.
The Stepwise campaign, run by Novartis to raise awareness of fungal nail
infections, was also cleared of promoting a prescription medicine, Lamisil
(terbinafine), despite being criticised by the BMJ.
The Sunday Herald was also unsuccessful in complaining about an obesity
awareness campaign run by Roche. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal