Otsuka Europe website: outdated partner statement ruled inaccurate (AUTH/3748/2/23)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/3748/2/23
Company	Otsuka Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd
Material	Otsuka Europe website webpage headed “Therapy Areas in Europe”
Main issue	Out-of-date/inaccurate statement about working with “partners Akebia and Aurinia” exploring treatment options for CKD anaemia and Lupus Nephritis
Applicable Code	2021
Breach	Clause 6.1
Complainant	Anonymous, non-contactable complainant (ex-employee)
Complaint received	28 February 2023
Case completed	4 June 2024
Appeal	No appeal
Sanctions	Undertaking received; additional sanctions not stated

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

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An anonymous, non-contactable complainant (described as an ex-employee) complained about an Otsuka Europe website page titled “Therapy Areas in Europe”.
The Nephrology section stated Otsuka was working with patients/HCPs on kidney disease awareness and, “together with our partners Akebia and Aurinia, are exploring treatment options for patients with anaemia related to chronic kidney disease and Lupus Nephritis.”
The complainant alleged the statement was updated in December 2021 but became out of date/false after Otsuka and Akebia cancelled their agreement (June 2022).
Otsuka explained it had terminated co-development/licence arrangements with Akebia (notification in May 2022; termination and settlement agreement in June 2022) and accepted the website statement was now inaccurate/obsolete.
Otsuka amended the webpage to remove reference to Akebia and anaemia related to chronic kidney disease.

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