AstraZeneca: “Non-promotional” EAP webinar ruled promotional and disguised promotion (Calquence) (AUTH/3521/6/21)

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Key facts

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Case	AUTH/3521/6/21
Complainant	Ex-employee
Company	AstraZeneca UK Limited
Product	Acalabrutinib (Calquence)
Activity	Early Access Programme (EAP) Clinical Practice Learns (CPL) Webinar
Date of webinar	11 May 2021
Complaint received	07 June 2021
Case completed	29 April 2022
Applicable Code year	2019
Allegation summary	Disguised promotion of Calquence as “non-promotional” education; slides not certified (only examined)
Panel finding	Webinar was promotional; promotion was disguised; slides were promotional material and not certified
Breach clauses	Clause 12.1; Clause 14.1
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Additional sanctions: Not stated
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An ex-employee complained about an AstraZeneca UK “Clinical Practice Learns” webinar (11 May 2021) linked to the acalabrutinib (Calquence) Early Access Programme (EAP).
The webinar and materials repeatedly described the event as “non-promotional” and “educational”, and it was invitation-only for consultant haematologists enrolled in the EAP.
Four haematologists presented five patient case studies, including treatment outcomes and “key takeaways”; slides flagged when approaches might be inconsistent with the acalabrutinib SPC.
The slides contained an adverse event reporting statement but no prescribing information.
The complainant alleged the event was promotional but disguised as non-promotional, and that slides were not certified (only examined).
AstraZeneca denied the allegations, stating the steering committee directed content and that materials were handled under SOPs as non-promotional.

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The Panel ruled the webinar content could not be anything other than promotion of acalabrutinib, given the proactive presentation of positive experiences and outcomes.
The Panel ruled the slides were promotional material and had been examined, not certified.
The Panel ruled that describing the meeting as “non-promotional” in invitations and slides disguised promotion.
No appeal.

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