PMCPA Case Analysis

Over 2,000 real rulings β€” analysed for what they mean to your team. Published every day.

All Cases PMCPA Case of the Week PMCPA Cases

Showing 1914 cases

2008
CASE
Pfizer

Pfizer letter requesting addition of Ecalta and Celsentri to hospital e-prescribing system ruled promotional without prescribing information

A hospital pharmacist complained about a Pfizer-authorised letter asking hospitals to add Ecalta and Celsentri to electronic prescribing/dispensing systems. The Panel ruled…

2008
CASE
Trinity-Chiesi Pharmaceuticals

Trinity-Chiesi letter promoting Clenil: omission of 200mcg cost comparison not misleading in Scottish context

A PCT pharmacist alleged a Clenil cost-comparison chart was misleading because it omitted 200mcg data. The Panel found the Scottish Drug Tariff…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2156/8/08 Sanofi

AUTH/2156/8/08: GlaxoSmithKline v Sanofi Pasteur MSD – Gardasil letter to health professionals

A letter about the UK HPV vaccine tender was ruled promotional for Gardasil, lacked prescribing information and adverse event reporting guidance, and…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2141/7/08 Sanofi ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2141/7/08: Novo Nordisk v Sanofi-Aventis – Promotion of Lantus (24-hour efficacy and hypoglycaemia claims)

Complaint about Lantus promotional leavepieces and a mailer. Issues included β€œ24-hour efficacy” wording and comparative hypoglycaemia claims based on pooled observational data.…

2008
CASE
Pfizer

Pfizer Toviaz journal advertisement: prescribing information missing for promoted tolterodine (Detrusitol)

A GP complained that a Toviaz ad also promoted tolterodine without prescribing information. The Panel ruled a breach for missing obligatory information,…

2008
CASE
Boehringer Ingelheim

Anonymous doctor v Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim: sponsored journal supplement found to be disguised promotion

A journal-lookalike supplement reporting a company-run symposium was presented as a sponsored independent forum report. The Panel ruled it was disguised promotion,…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2203/1/09 Pfizer

Pfizer Champix ad: superiority claim vs NRT ruled misleading due to lack of study context (AUTH/2203/1/09)

A Champix journal ad claimed significantly greater quit success vs NiQuitin patch. PMCPA ruled the claim misleading because the ad didn’t explain…

2019
CASE
AUTH/3180/4/19 AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca sales manager’s personal Instagram post about KOL nurse ruled in scope and unethical; conflict of interest not declared (AUTH/3180/4/19)

A respiratory nurse complained about a sales manager’s personal Facebook/Instagram posts referencing a nurse KOL. Panel found one Instagram post in scope…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2176/10/08 Schering-Plough ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2176/10/08: Nurse v Schering-Plough β€” alleged confidentiality breach in NHS infusion service programme (No breach)

A nurse alleged she was suspended for refusing to share confidential unit/customer data from an infusion service facilitation programme. The Panel found…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2167/9/08 Pfizer

AUTH/2167/9/08: Astellas v Pfizer β€” Toviaz promotion, post hoc superiority claim and β€œnew step” messaging

Pfizer’s Toviaz ad claimed superiority vs tolterodine based on post hoc analysis and used β€œa new step” wording. PMCPA ruled multiple breaches…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2251/7/09 Cephalon

AUTH/2251/7/09: Health professional v Cephalon (Effentora) – alleged off-label promotion (sublingual use) – No breach

A health professional alleged Cephalon reps promoted sublingual Effentora (off-licence). Panel found insufficient evidence on balance of probabilities; no breach of Clauses…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2230/5/09 AstraZeneca

AUTH/2230/5/09: Anonymous v AstraZeneca β€” alleged conflict of interest/inducement via rep’s private supplies business (No breach)

Anonymous GP alleged an AstraZeneca rep offered savings via his private consumables company, creating a perceived inducement/conflict. Panel had concerns about perception…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2283/12/09 Lundbeck

AUTH/2283/12/09: Lundbeck breached Clause 4.7 over prescribing information location statement size/placement in Cipralex ad

A Cipralex (escitalopram) journal ad said β€œFor references and prescribing information, see overleaf” in text smaller than the Code’s 2mm requirement and…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2289/12/09 Alcon Laboratories ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2289/12/09: Merck Sharp & Dohme v Alcon β€” Azarga β€œcomfort” leavepiece and over-emphasis claims

Alcon’s Azarga leavepiece repeatedly used β€œcomfort/comfortable”. Appeal Board allowed the comparative β€œSignificantly more comfortable than Cosopt” claim (with data), but upheld breaches…

2010
CASE
AUTH/2315/4/10 Merck Serono

Anonymous Employee v Merck Serono (AUTH/2315/4/10): Target contact rates – no breach

Anonymous key account manager alleged verbal contact-rate targets forced Code breaches. Panel found no evidence targets required excessive calls; company data suggested…

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