Bausch & Lomb and Merck Serono have been named in advertisements following breaches of the ABPI Code

Press Release 18 March 2016

Both companies have brought discredit upon, and reduced confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry.

Bausch & Lomb CASE AUTH/2796/9/15

For not being sufficiently clear about the licensed doses for Emerade (adrenaline auto-injector), for making other misleading and unsubstantiated claims and disguising the promotion of its medicine, Bausch & Lomb UK Limited was ruled in breach of the following clauses of the Code:

Clause 2    - Bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry.

Clause 7.2 - Making a misleading claim.

Clause 7.4 - Making an unsubstantiated claim.

Clause 7.10- Failing to encourage the rational use of a medicine.

Clause 9.1  - Failing to maintain high standards.

Clause 12.1- Disguising promotional materials.  

Bausch & Lomb CASE AUTH/2817/12/15

For breaching an undertaking previously given in relation to the use of the word 'new' in the promotion of Emerade (adrenaline auto-injector), Bausch & Lomb UK Limited 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 29  - Failing to comply with an undertaking.

Merck Serono CASE AUTH/2804/11/15

For failing to certify Rebif (interferon beta-1a) promotional material, and similarly being ruled in breach for failing to certify representatives' briefing material in a previous case, Merck Serono 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 14.1 - Failing to certify promotional material before use.

Full case reports are published in the February 2016 Code of Practice Review and are available atwww.pmcpa.org.uk. 

Notes to Editors:

(1) The advertisements will appear in the British Medical Journal 19 March, The Nursing Standard on 23 March and The Pharmaceutical Journal on 26 March. 

(2) The Code of Practice Appeal Board consists of an independent, legally qualified, chairman and includes independent members, as well as senior executives from pharmaceutical companies. For the consideration of any matter independent members, including the Chair, must be in a majority. Further details are available in the PMCPA Constitution and Procedure.

For more information contact Elly Button ebutton@pmcpa.org.uk 0207 7478884 or 07920863650

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) was established by The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) to operate the ABPI Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry independently of the ABPI. The PMCPA is a division of the ABPI. The Code covers the promotion of medicines for prescribing to health professionals and the provision of information to the public about prescription only medicines. If you have any concerns about the activities of pharmaceutical companies in this regard, please contact the PMCPA at 7th Floor, 105 Victoria St, London, SW1E 6QT or email complaints@pmcpa.org.uk. The Code and other information, including details about ongoing cases, can be found on the PMCPA website www.pmcpa.org.uk.