Camurus: Champions League match and hotel bar drinks during Lisbon Addictions 2019 led to inappropriate hospitality finding (AUTH/3318/3/20)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/3318/3/20
Complainant	Anonymous, non-contactable individual
Company	Camurus Ltd
Issue	Inappropriate hospitality (football match attendance and subsequent drinks)
Event	Lisbon Addictions 2019 Conference (International Society of Substance Use Professionals)
Location	Lisbon, Portugal
Date(s)	Conference: 23–25 October 2019; Football match: 23 October 2019
People involved (as described)	Two Camurus UK representatives; one UK health professional
Applicable Code year	2019
Breach clauses	Clause 2; Clause 9.1; Clause 22.1
Panel findings	Hospitality not subsistence-only; out of proportion; high standards not maintained; brought discredit to the industry
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Advertisement
Complaint received	12 March 2020
Case completed	8 September 2020
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An anonymous, non-contactable complainant alleged Camurus took a colleague to a football match during the Lisbon Addictions 2019 Conference (Lisbon, 23–25 October 2019) and entertained them with no educational purpose.
Two Camurus UK representatives attended a Champions League football match in Lisbon on 23 October 2019 with a UK health professional.
The health professional bought three tickets at the gate; each representative later reimbursed the health professional for their own ticket only.
There were inconsistencies between the representatives’ accounts (including why the health professional paid and whether the idea originated from the health professional) and uncertainty about the exact ticket cost, with a discrepancy in reimbursement amounts (£27 vs £20).
One representative stated hospitality purchased after the match included drinks at the hotel bar (two drinks each for the representatives and two beers for the health professional) at a cost to Camurus.
Camurus’ internal review of expense claims found no claims for entertainment (including football tickets) by representatives or the health professional.

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The Panel ruled the hospitality on 23 October 2019 was not secondary to the main purpose of an educational event (ie not subsistence only), was not appropriate, and was out of proportion to the occasion.
The Panel ruled Camurus failed to maintain high standards.
The Panel ruled the arrangements gave a poor impression and, on balance, brought discredit to and reduced confidence in the pharmaceutical industry.
No appeal.

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