AUTH/2945/3/17: Community Pharmacist v GlaxoSmithKline (COPD pharmacist booklet) – No breach | PMCPA Case

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Key facts

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Case	AUTH/2945/3/17
Complainant	Anonymous, non contactable community pharmacist
Company	GlaxoSmithKline
Material	NPA booklet: Managing COPD in the community, Resources for pharmacists (Ref UK/RET/0007/16)
Main allegations	Misleading/bias; implied off-label COPD promotion via “Evohaler”; omission of other devices
Key issue	“Evohaler” listed as an example MDI in a COPD devices table; concern it could imply Seretide Evohaler licensed for COPD
Panel decision	No breach of the Code
Clauses considered	3.2, 7.2, 7.3, 9.1
Complaint received	13 March 2017
Case completed	28 June 2017
Applicable Code year	2016

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

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An anonymous community pharmacist complained about an NPA booklet, Managing COPD in the community, Resources for pharmacists (Ref UK/RET/0007/16), which carried both NPA and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) logos.
The booklet was written/developed by the NPA; GSK funded it and checked scientific accuracy for any GSK products mentioned.
The complainant alleged the booklet was misleading and biased for use in Medicine Use Reviews (MURs) and New Medicine Service (NMS) consultations with COPD patients.
Concern focused on a table of “COPD inhaler devices” listing “Evohaler” as an example of a standard MDI, which the complainant said could be interpreted as implying Seretide Evohaler was licensed for COPD (it was not).
The complainant also alleged bias because some devices (eg Ellipta, Spiromax, NEXThaler, Forspiro) were not referenced.
GSK stated the booklet was non-promotional in content (generic names used), but had been certified as “Promotional” because it formed part of a wider partnership programme; GSK said it had not proactively distributed the booklets.
GSK noted Ventolin Evohaler and Seretide Evohaler were not licensed for COPD, while Serevent Evohaler was; and that a footnote in the table stated licensed indications vary and SPCs should be checked.

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