Astellas Pharma named in advertisements for breaches of the ABPI Code

Astellas Pharma Ltd has breached the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry. To highlight these breaches, Astellas is the subject of advertisements(1) in the medical, pharmaceutical and nursing press.

Anonymous Clinician v Astellas Case: AUTH/2290/12/09 

For paying health professionals to attend a series of advisory boards which were at least in part disguised promotion, and thus in effect giving what amounted to an inducement to prescribe, administer or recommend a medicine, Astellas was ruled in breach of the following clauses of the Code:

Clause 2 -      Bringing discredit upon and reducing confidence in the pharmaceutical industry.
Clause 9.1 -   Failing to maintain high standards.
Clause 12.1 - Organising an activity which was in part disguised promotion.
Clause 18.1 - Paying a fee to attend a promotional event which was, in effect, an inducement to prescribe, administer or recommend a medicine.
Clause 20 -    Failing to comply with the requirements relating to consultants.

Under provisions in its Constitution and Procedure, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) advertises brief details of all cases where companies are ruled in breach of Clause 2 of the Code, are required to issue a corrective statement or are the subject of a public reprimand.