Valneva: pharmacy training webinar video deemed promotional after product mentions (AUTH/3734/2/23)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/3734/2/23
Parties	Complainant v Valneva
Material	Pharmacy organisation webpage and recorded training webinar video hosted on YouTube
Audience	Pharmacists and pharmacy staff (intended)
Products mentioned	Ixiaro, Rabipur, Dukoral
Main issue	Recording deemed promotional due to product mentions; missing AE reporting statement; lack of prescribing information handled under high standards; video not certified; disguised promotion
Applicable Code year	2021
Complaint received	10 February 2023
Case completed	4 June 2024
Appeal	No appeal
Breach clauses	Clause 5.1; Clause 8.1; Clause 12.9; clause 15.6
No breach clauses	Clause 2; Clause 26.1
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Additional sanctions: Not stated

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

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Valneva participated in a pharmacy organisation’s training webinar for pharmacy staff about setting up/running a travel health and vaccination service.
The webinar invite/agenda and a webpage stated the session was “Working in partnership with Valneva UK” and that speakers were provided by Valneva UK Ltd.
The slide deck itself contained no medicine references and was certified; however, the recorded webinar (slides + voiceover) included a single mention of Valneva products (Ixiaro, Rabipur and Dukoral), including comments about indications and there being “no competitors in the market”.
The recording was hosted on YouTube as “unlisted” and embedded/linked from the pharmacy organisation’s members-only area; the complainant alleged it was publicly available and promotional without required information.
The Panel considered the product references meant the webinar recording was promotional material.

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Breach of Clause 5.1 Failing to maintain high standards.
Breach of Clause 8.1 Failing to certify promotional material.
Breach of Clause 12.9 Failing to include a prominent adverse event reporting statement.
Breach of clause 15.6 Disguised promotion.
No Breach of Clause 2 Requirement that activities or materials must not bring discredit upon, or reduce confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry.
No Breach of Clause 26.1 Requirement not to advertise prescription only medicines to the public.

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