AstraZeneca breached an undertaking after repeat missing prescribing information on Trixeo website (AUTH/3769/5/23)

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Key facts

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Case	AUTH/3769/5/23
Parties	Complainant/Director v AstraZeneca
Issue	Alleged breach of undertaking relating to repeat missing Symbicort prescribing information on the Trixeo website homepage where Symbicort was mentioned by its non-proprietary name (as found in earlier case)
Applicable Code year	2021
Complaint received	22 May 2023
Case completed	15 April 2024
Appeal	No appeal
Breach clauses	2, 3.3, 5.1
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Advertisement
Product / channel	Trixeo promotional website; Symbicort referenced by non-proprietary name
Panel note on live site (May 2023)	No ruling; no allegations about the version live at the time of this complaint

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

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A complaint (also taken up by the Director) alleged a breach of undertaking linked to the Trixeo promotional website.
In an earlier case (AUTH/3488/3/21, 2019 Code), AstraZeneca was found in breach for not including Symbicort prescribing information on the Trixeo website homepage where Symbicort was mentioned by its non-proprietary name.
AstraZeneca signed an undertaking in September 2021 assuring it would take all possible steps to avoid similar breaches in future.
Two months later, a further complaint was received (AUTH/3585/11/21, 2021 Code) and the Panel ruled (among other things) that Symbicort prescribing information was missing on certain pages of the Trixeo website, including the homepage, where Symbicort was referred to by its non-proprietary name.
In this case (AUTH/3769/5/23), the complainant alleged that the repeat issue in AUTH/3585/11/21 amounted to a breach of the September 2021 undertaking.
AstraZeneca argued there was no new evidence beyond the historical cases and stated the website live at the time of this May 2023 complaint was compliant and included Symbicort prescribing information where required.

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Breach of Clause 3.3 (Failing to comply with an undertaking).
Breach of Clause 5.1 (Failing to maintain high standards).
Breach of Clause 2 (Bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry).
The Panel made no ruling about the version of the website live at the time of the May 2023 complaint, as there were no allegations about that live version.
No appeal.

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