GSK press release on COVID-19 vaccine efficacy ruled misleading (RRR presented without sufficient context)

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Key facts

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Case	AUTH/3760/4/23
Company	GSK
Complainant	Contactable member of the public
Material	Press release on GSK corporate website (stock-exchange announcement; “For media and investors only”)
Product	VidPrevtyn Beta (Sanofi and GSK COVID-19 booster vaccine)
Main issue	Vaccine efficacy percentages presented without sufficient context (including omission of absolute risk data and lack of comparator/trial detail), potentially misleading
Code year	2021
Complaint received	04 April 2023
Completed	05 June 2024
Appeal	No appeal
Breach	Clause 6.1
No breach	Clause 5.1
Sanctions	Undertaking received; additional sanctions not stated

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

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A member of the public complained about a GSK press release on its corporate website about Sanofi and GSK’s COVID-19 booster vaccine VidPrevtyn Beta.
The press release stated: “The results showed a 64.7% efficacy against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection… and 75.1% efficacy in participants previously infected with SARS-CoV-2”.
The complainant alleged the figures were presented as relative risk reduction (RRR) without mentioning absolute risk reduction (ARR), making the claim misleading.
The complainant referenced earlier PMCPA cases on similar issues and alleged GSK also failed to maintain high standards.
GSK said the release was a “Stock-exchange announcement” intended for “Media and investors only”, distributed to business/financial media and placed in the website’s Media/Press releases section.
After receiving the Authority’s letter, GSK removed the material from its corporate website “out of an abundance of caution”, with the possibility of reinstating it later with corrections.

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Breach of Clause 6.1 (Making a misleading claim).
No breach of Clause 5.1 (Requirement to maintain high standards at all times).
No appeal.

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