Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17585

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: Journal Article

Mooney H
Sanctions for irregular marketing do 'really hurt' drug companies, authority says
BMJ 2010 Apr 12; 340:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/340/apr12_1/c1970

Abstract:

The head of the panel that monitors the marketing of drugs in the United Kingdom has defended its system of regulation as being “very strong,” despite persistent offences by one company.

Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals UK was reprimanded in October 2009 for breaching the voluntary code of practice of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry for using marketing material with the strapline “Confidence in colitis.” However, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, the arm’s length body that enforces the code of practice on behalf of the association, had to take action against Procter & Gamble again this month over the same offence.

Heather Simmonds, the authority’s director and chairwoman of its code of practice panel, told the BMJ that sanctions levied against drug companies that breached the code were “very strong.”

She said that Procter & Gamble voluntarily admitted that it was in breach of the code a . . .