Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11352

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Xenical ad ban upheld
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2007 Aug 31
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

ROCHE Products has failed in its Federal Court attempt to have consumer advertising of its
weight-loss medication Xenical reinstated.

The ban was put in place in Feb by the National Drugs and Poisons Scheduling Committee (NDPSC)
with effect from 01 Sep.

Roche took the committee to court, but yesterday’s judgement stated the NDPSC had not overstepped its jurisdiction by considering evidence related to a CHOICE mystery shop in its deliberations.

The consumer group claimed a “shadow-shop” found that 24 out of 30 pharmacies dispensed Xenical to a 19-year-old girl with a healthy weight.

Roche slammed the CHOICE survey, saying it wasn’t conducted on a scientific basis and contrasted its findings with the evidence-based approach more usually adopted by the NDPSC members.

Xenical continues to be able to be advertised until a revised 01 Oct deadline (PD 09 Aug).

CHOICE welcomed the judgement, with spokesman Gordon Renouf saying the group was “pleased that the
independence of the NDPSC’s decision-making processes has been preserved by this Federal Court decision.

He continued to call for Xenical to be sold only by prescription, and urged pharmacists to “ensure
they comply with industry guidelines and avoid potential conflicts of interest”.