Following a number of recent cases the PMCPA has issued guidance on the application of Clause 3 of the Code to various activities.

The guidance covers:

1. The provision of information about unauthorized medicines / indications
2. Promotion at international meetings held in the UK
3. Advance notification of new products or product changes
4. Guidance issued following Health Technology Assessments
5. Pharmaceutical company staff
6. Information to the public.

10 May 2012

Proposals to amend the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry have been sent to companies and published on the PMCPA website.

The proposed amendments result from changes to the Code of Practice of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and to UK law.

16 March 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim Limited named in advertisements for breaches of the ABPI Code of Practice

Boehringer Ingelheim Limited has breached Clause 2 of the ABPI Code of Practice and is the subject of advertisements in the medical, pharmaceutical and nursing press.

Boehringer Ingelheim – Case AUTH/2424/8/11
For commissioning an article in a medical journal which was disguised promotion of Trajenta before the grant of a marketing authorization that permitted its sale or supply, Boehringer Ingelheim was ruled in breach of the following clauses of the Code:

Proposals to amend the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry were agreed by the ABPI on 3 November 2011.

The 2012 Code of Practice will come into operation on 1 January 2012 with a transitional period between 1 January 2012 and 30 April 2012. During this time no promotional material or activity will be regarded as being in breach of the Code if it fails to comply with its provisions only because of newly introduced requirements.

There are different transitional provisions for Clauses 17.2 and 28.2. Details are given in the supplementary information for those clauses.

23 September 2011

Proposals to amend the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry and the PMCPA Constitution and Procedure have been published on the PMCPA website.

The changes are to implement changes to the EFPIA Code on the Promotion of Prescription-Only Medicines to, and Interactions with, Health Professionals and the EFPIA Code of Practice on Relationships between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Patient Organisations.

16 August 2011
Bayer Healthcare named in advertisements for breaches of the ABPI Code of Practice

Bayer Healthcare has breached Clause 2 of the ABPI Code of Practice and is the subject of advertisements in the medical, pharmaceutical and nursing press.

Bayer Healthcare – Case AUTH/2402/4/11
For using Twitter to announce the launch of two prescription only medicines, Bayer Healthcare was ruled in breach of the following clauses of the Code:
Clause 2 - Bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry.