Roche: healthcare partnership website sponsorship declaration held sufficiently clear from the outset (AUTH/3893/4/24)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/3893/4/24
Complainant	Anonymous complainant; taken up in the name of the Chief Executive (PMCPA)
Company	Roche
Issue	Alleged lack of declaration of Roche sponsorship “from the outset” on a healthcare partnership website; alleged breach of undertaking from prior case AUTH/3676/7/22
Material	Website (Date of Preparation: December 2023; Material Number: M-GB-00013651)
Applicable Code	2021
Clauses considered	2, 3.3, 5.1, 25.3
Outcome	No breach of Clauses 2, 3.3, 5.1, 25.3
Complaint received	29 April 2024
Case completed	11 June 2025
Appeal	No appeal
Additional sanctions	Not stated

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

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An anonymous, contactable complainant alleged a healthcare partnership website did not prominently declare Roche sponsorship “from the outset”, with the declaration only appearing at the end of the webpage.
The complainant further alleged this repeated an earlier issue and therefore breached an undertaking given in a previous case (AUTH/3676/7/22).
The material referenced was a website (Date of Preparation: December 2023; Material Number: M-GB-00013651) for a coalition/partnership involving multiple organisations and Roche.
Roche stated it sponsored the initiative by funding a medical communications company to act as secretariat, and that campaign materials were subject to Roche approval for ABPI Code compliance; a Roche Medical Final Signatory certified the website in December 2023.
Roche initiated a recall process for the material while the complaint was investigated.
The Panel reviewed screenshots taken at the time of complaint receipt (complainant provided no screenshots). The homepage showed small partner logos (including Roche) at the top, a video thumbnail referencing Roche in the first field of vision, and a fuller funding declaration after scrolling down.

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Clause 2 – Requirement that activities or materials must not bring discredit upon, or reduce confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry
Clause 3.3 – Requirement to comply with an undertaking
Clause 5.1 – Requirement to maintain high standards at all times
Clause 25.3 – Requirement that companies must ensure that all sponsorship is clearly acknowledged from the outset

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