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

Roche Products

MSD v Roche & GSK: Bonviva preference campaign misled by implying equivalence with Fosamax Once Weekly

Bonviva materials compared monthly vs weekly dosing and claimed 71% patient preference versus alendronate. PMCPA ruled the comparison misleading because Bonviva’s hip-fracture…

2007
CASE
AUTH/2027/7/07 GlaxoSmithKline

AUTH/2027/7/07: Member of the Public v GlaxoSmithKline (Conduct of a representative) – No breach

Public alleged a GSK rep sold medicine samples privately, leading to an overdose and hospitalisation. GSK showed samples were posted direct to…

2006
CASE
AUTH/1815/3/06 GlaxoSmithKline

GSK breached Code by using reps to offer and deliver free Oxford Handbook to GPs (AUTH/1815/3/06)

MSD complained about a GSK rep letter offering GPs a free Oxford Handbook. Although educational, the Panel ruled the rep-led selection and…

2006
CASE
AUTH/1862/7/06 Shire

Shire breached an undertaking after a prior ruling on β€œpreferred by 80%” claim for Calcichew-D3 Forte (AUTH/1862/7/06)

Shire was found to have breached an undertaking after a leavepiece repeated an β€œ80% preferred” claim without explaining why. Other materials were…

2006
CASE
AUTH/1864/7/06 Eli Lilly ⭐ Case of the Week

Lilly ED TV disease-awareness campaign: no breach (AUTH/1864/7/06)

A member of the public challenged a Lilly erectile dysfunction TV advert as illegal public promotion. PMCPA found it was disease awareness,…

2006
CASE
AUTH/1796/2/06 Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk animal insulin discontinuation leaflet: no breach over β€˜vast majority initiated on analogue insulins’ claim (AUTH/1796/2/06)

A PCT prescribing lead challenged a discontinuation leaflet as covertly promoting analogue insulins and making an unreferenced claim. The PMCPA Panel found…

2010
CASE
AUTH/2375/12/10 GlaxoSmithKline Consumer

AUTH/2375/12/10: Curaprox v GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare – Corsodyl Mint Mouthwash detail aid (out of scope / no breach)

Curaprox complained about a Corsodyl Mint Mouthwash detail aid. The PMCPA recorded the matter as outwith the scope of the Code, with…

2012
CASE
AUTH/2511/6/12 Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK

AUTH/2511/6/12: Anonymous v Novartis β€” Tweets for press releases (outwith scope; no breach)

Complaint about Novartis tweets for press releases. PMCPA found the matter outwith the scope of the Code; no breach. No appeal and…

2015
CASE
Dr Falk Pharma

Dr Falk Pharma voluntary admission: promotional Salofalk video accessible to the public via NHS Alliance site (and later found on YouTube)

Dr Falk admitted Code breaches after a Salofalk-focused video was accessible without access controls on the NHS Alliance website and later appeared…

2016
CASE
AUTH/2895/11/16 Boehringer Ingelheim ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2895/11/16 – Director v Boehringer Ingelheim (Giotrif): Clinical trial disclosure

PMCPA case AUTH/2895/11/16 (Director v Boehringer Ingelheim) concerning clinical trial disclosure for Giotrif. Outcome: No breach; matter was outwith the scope of…

2019
CASE
AUTH/3271/10/19 Napp Pharmaceuticals

Napp: Invokana website ruled to promote to the public and omit key safety warning in HP safety section (AUTH/3271/10/19)

Invokana website patient/public pages were deemed promotional (weight loss/BP claims) and lacked general-public info. HP safety section omitted Fournier’s gangrene, making it…

2019
CASE
AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca & Merck Sharp & Dohme advisory board: photos of HCPs taken and shared internally without consent (Clause 9.1 breach)

An oncologist complained about a joint AstraZeneca/MSD ovarian cancer advisory board. Most allegations were not upheld, but taking identifiable photos of HCPs…

2020
CASE
AUTH/3322/3/20 Bayer

Bayer: β€˜Guidelines in Practice’ commissioned videos not ruled disguised promotion for Xarelto (AUTH/3322/3/20)

Complaint alleged Bayer-commissioned β€˜Guidelines in Practice’ videos were disguised promotion for Xarelto. Panel found sponsorship and PI links were clear; no breach…

2020
CASE
AUTH/3328/4/20 GlaxoSmithKline

GSK breached ABPI Code after Avamys banner ad generic name was not readily readable (AUTH/3328/4/20)

Anonymous UK health professional complained Avamys banner ad on Pulse made the generic name illegible. Panel found breaches of Clauses 4.3 and…

2019
CASE
AUTH/3194/4/19 GlaxoSmithKline ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/3194/4/19: Anonymous v GlaxoSmithKline (sponsored COPD therapy review service) – No breach

Complaint alleged a third-party email linked GSK-sponsored COPD therapy reviews to β€œclient product/therapy priorities”. Panel and Appeal Board had concerns about the…

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