Britannia: Member of the public attended Apo-go promotional meeting at MDS Congress (AUTH/3297/1/20)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/3297/1/20
Company	Britannia
Product	APO-Go (apomorphine for injection or infusion)
Event	Movement Disorders Society (MDS) Congress, Nice (22–25 September 2019)
Key activity	Evening scientific meeting/symposium and dinner with coach transfers (Sunday 22 September 2019)
Main issue upheld	Member of the public attended a meeting where a POM was promoted; inadequate controls on attendance/eligibility
Other allegation	Monte Carlo dinner/casino allegation (Tuesday 24 September 2019) not upheld (no HCPs attended per Panel finding)
Complaint received	06 January 2020
Case completed	14 September 2020
Applicable Code year	2019
Breach clauses	Clause 2; Clause 9.1; Clause 26.1
No breach clauses	Clause 22.1 (and consequently no breach of Clauses 9.1 and 2 for the 24 September allegation)
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Additional sanctions: Advertisement
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An ex-pharma employee complained about Britannia’s arrangements for hospitality at the Movement Disorders Society (MDS) Congress in Nice (22–25 September 2019).
The complaint focused on a Britannia-hosted evening scientific meeting on Sunday 22 September 2019 (scientific content approved; job code APO2-0619-10460) with coach transfers to the venue.
The complainant alleged partner-organisation delegates who were not registered took places on the coach transfers, meaning some registered delegates could not get to the venue.
The complainant alleged two partner-organisation executives brought their partners to the scientific meeting even though they were not health professionals (and the status of a third partner was unknown).
Britannia said it tried to stop non-health professionals attending the symposium and dinner but was unsuccessful for one individual; Britannia accepted that a member of the public attended the meeting where Apo-go was promoted.
A separate allegation concerned an evening on Tuesday 24 September 2019: that named delegates/partners and Britannia employees went to Monte Carlo (including a casino). Britannia said this was an internal dinner for staff only and no health professionals were invited or attended.

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Breach of Clause 26.1 (promotion of a prescription only medicine to the public) in relation to the 22 September meeting.
Breach of Clause 9.1 (high standards) in relation to not ensuring only health professionals attended and not giving clear instructions that spouses/partners could not attend unless delegates in their own right.
Breach of Clause 2 (bringing discredit on the industry) in relation to the circumstances around a member of the public attending (and potentially staying for the meal), and the poor impression created by the company’s handling/processes.
No breach of Clause 22.1 regarding the 24 September Monte Carlo dinner; consequently no breach of Clauses 9.1 and 2 for that allegation.
No appeal.

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