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
Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim: Micardis/Micardis Plus journal ad implied unproven long-term cardiovascular benefit

A GP challenged a Prescriber journal ad for Micardis/Micardis Plus. The Panel found the headline implied long-term cardiovascular benefit inconsistent with the…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2202/1/09 Novo Nordisk

Lilly v Novo Nordisk: The Times diabetes supplement and pre-licence promotion of liraglutide (AUTH/2202/1/09)

Novo Nordisk-funded Times supplement included interview claims about liraglutide trial benefits before approval. Panel found public promotion, lack of due diligence and…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2186/11/08 AstraZeneca ⭐ Case of the Week

AstraZeneca: Crestor journal ad β€œFinding cholesterol targets harder to hit?” (AUTH/2186/11/08) – No breach

A pharmacist alleged a Crestor journal ad implied NICE cholesterol targets had been reduced and omitted first-line NICE advice. The Panel found…

2008
CASE
AUTH/2172/10/08 Bayer

AUTH/2172/10/08: Bayer Schering Pharma – pre-licence promotion of Xarelto via UK congress stand and JBJS supplement

Bayer Schering was found to have promoted Xarelto (rivaroxaban) before UK marketing authorisation via a UK exhibition stand and a journal insert,…

2017
CASE
AUTH/2981/9/17 ViiV

AUTH/2981/9/17: Member of the public v ViiV Healthcare β€” iPad use on a train (No breach)

A member of the public saw Triumeq promotional material on a train on a third-party employee’s iPad. Panel found no promotion to…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2250/7/09 GlaxoSmithKline

GSK travel health β€œpricing proposal” treated as promotion: uncertified material and missing PI (AUTH/2250/7/09)

GSK admitted a travel health pricing proposal sent to buying groups became promotional due to β€œExcellent Products”. It lacked PI, INNs and…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2229/5/09 AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca voluntary admission: internal email linked AUA sponsorship to protecting/growing Zoladex business (AUTH/2229/5/09)

An internal email implied AUA meeting sponsorship was tied to protecting/growing Zoladex prescriptions. One rep forwarded it to a doctor. PMCPA ruled…

2009
CASE
AUTH/2281/11/09 Lundbeck ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2281/11/09: Anonymous Doctor v Lundbeck – conduct of representative (no breach)

A hospital doctor alleged a Lundbeck rep made a joint visit with a competitor rep and discussed rival products. The complainant was…

2008
CASE
Chugai

Roche & Chugai: HSJ sponsored supplement stapled into journal was deemed disguised (Clause 12.1)

A rheumatoid arthritis supplement funded by Roche/Chugai was stapled into the Health Service Journal. On appeal, the PMCPA ruled the inside pages…

2008
CASE
Merck Serono

Merck Serono: anonymous employee alleged unachievable 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…

2010
CASE
AUTH/2294/1/10 AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca fined for misleading Seroquel β€˜favourable weight profile’ claim (AUTH/2294/1/10, AUTH/2296/1/10, AUTH/2297/1/10)

AstraZeneca’s UK journal ad for Seroquel claimed a β€˜favourable weight profile across the full dose range’. PMCPA ruled the claim misleading/unsubstantiated and…

2010
CASE
AUTH/2329/7/10 Genus Pharmaceuticals

AUTH/2329/7/10: Astellas Pharma v Genus β€” Eczmol journal advertisement (Clause 9.4 imitation) β€” No breach

Astellas alleged Genus’ Eczmol ad copied Locoid’s animal imagery and β€œstrong/gentle” strapline, risking confusion. The Panel found similarities but different execution and…

2010
CASE
AUTH/2365/10/10 Sanofi ⭐ Case of the Week

AUTH/2365/10/10: Anonymous v Sanofi-Aventis β€” β€˜Oncology Product Pipeline Update’ (advance notification) sent to sales reps in error (No breach)

Anonymous complaint alleged sales reps used an β€œOncology Product Pipeline Update” to promote unlicensed products. Panel found reps weren’t instructed to promote…

2017
CASE
AUTH/2939/2/17 Astellas

Astellas UK & Astellas Europe: incomplete prescribing information used for years (AUTH/2939/2/17, AUTH/2940/2/17)

Astellas voluntarily admitted using incomplete prescribing information across multiple medicines and materials over several years, including omissions of serious/common adverse reactions and…

2019
CASE
AUTH/3167/2/19 Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK

Novartis retweet about haematology masterclass: no breach (AUTH/3167/2/19)

Novartis retweeted an HCP’s positive tweet about a Novartis haematology meeting. Complaint alleged disguised promotion, public promotion and breach of a prior…

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