Sanofi-Aventis & Bristol-Myers Squibb: MINAP meeting invitation misleadingly implied endorsement (AUTH/2029/7/07, AUTH/2030/7/07)

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Key facts

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Case numbers	AUTH/2029/7/07 and AUTH/2030/7/07
Complainant	Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP) (Clinical Director referenced on case page)
Companies	Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb
Issue	Invitation to sponsored educational meeting implied MINAP Steering Committee involvement/endorsement and implied companies’ role was limited to sponsorship
Activity type	Sponsored meetings / meeting invitation and materials
Applicable Code year	2006
Complaint received	02 August 2007
Case completed	25 September 2007
Appeal	No appeal
Breach(es)	Clause 9.1
No breach	Clause 2 (and no breach for allegation of disguised promotion on the evidence reviewed)
Sanctions	Undertaking received; additional sanctions: Not stated
PMCPA summary	Invitation misleading; verbal disclaimer insufficient; subsequent invitations corrected; meeting content found non-promotional

Reviewed by Dr Anzal Qurbain (FFPM) — ABPI Final Signatory

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The Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP) complained about a series of meetings sponsored by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb, focusing on one meeting invitation for “Getting the most out of MINAP”.
MINAP is a national audit project (England & Wales) funded by the Healthcare Commission; MINAP’s steering group did not want involvement with the pharmaceutical industry.
An agency working for the companies developed a “toolkit” and meeting programme intended to help health professionals use MINAP data.
MINAP and regional MINAP staff initially discussed the programme but later withdrew and stated they did not want further involvement.
An older version of an invitation/flyer was mistakenly sent out by the companies’ agency. It stated the toolkit was developed “in association with the MINAP steering committee” and included “Feedback for MINAP steering group”.
At the meetings, delegates were verbally told at the outset that the programme was not associated with the MINAP steering committee.
The companies stated the meetings were non-promotional: no product mentioned, no promotional stands, and presentations discussed MINAP data only.

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Breach of Clause 9.1 (high standards) in relation to the misleading invitation implying MINAP steering committee involvement/endorsement and implying the companies’ role was limited to sponsorship.
No breach of Clause 2 (discredit) regarding the invitation.
No breach found that the meetings were disguised promotion; the Panel found no evidence the meetings were promotional.
Subsequent invitations removed references to MINAP’s role and “feedback”.

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