Ipsen: ISU Belfast meeting sponsorship criticised for overall impression of luxury venue and social programme (AUTH/2554/11/12)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/2554/11/12
Complainant	Anonymous group of NHS health professionals (non-contactable)
Company	Ipsen (Ipsen Limited, UK operating company; Irish operating company involved)
Meeting	Irish Society of Urology (ISU) annual meeting
Location / date	Culloden Estate and Spa, Holywood, Belfast (Northern Ireland), September 2012
Complaint theme	Alleged excessive hospitality due to luxury venue and social/leisure emphasis (golf and gala dinner)
Applicable Code year	2012
Clauses considered	Clauses 2, 9.1, 19.1
Ruling	No breach of Clauses 2 and 19.1; breach of Clause 9.1
Sanctions	Undertaking received; additional sanctions not stated
Complaint received	26 November 2012
Case completed	12 February 2013
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An anonymous group of NHS health professionals complained about pharmaceutical company support for the Irish Society of Urology (ISU) annual meeting held in Belfast (Northern Ireland) in September 2012.
The meeting programme featured a luxury 5-star venue (Culloden Estate and Spa) with prominent non-scientific imagery and messaging emphasising the “social aspect”.
The programme included a conference dinner during the meeting, and listed golf and a gala dinner at Stormont after the scientific sessions ended.
Ipsen’s involvement: paid €1,850 for an exhibition stand (cost split between UK and Irish affiliates); did not sponsor delegates; sponsorship acknowledged on the back page of the programme.
Ipsen initially stated its representatives did not attend the conference dinner, but later confirmed two Irish affiliate representatives attended the meeting and the dinner.
The Panel considered that, because the meeting was held in Northern Ireland, the ABPI Code applied, and UK companies could be responsible for overseas affiliates’ activities when carried out in the UK or relating to UK health professionals.

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Breach: Clause 9.1.
No breach: Clauses 2 and 19.1.
The Panel was concerned that Ipsen’s initial response incorrectly stated its representatives did not attend the conference dinner; it stated this was unacceptable because self-regulation relied on full and frank disclosure, but it decided to take no further action on that point.

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