Australian Prescriber An independent Review Logo
ISSUE 6 DECEMBER
Med Aust code conduct

Medicines Australia Code of Conduct: breaches

The Medicines Australia Code of Conduct guides the promotion of prescription products by pharmaceutical companies.1 Each year Medicines Australia publishes a report, from its Code of Conduct Committee, which details all the complaints that have been received about advertising and other promotional activities.

The latest report2 reflects the first year of operation of the 16th edition of the Code. As usual, most complaints about promotional activity were made by rival pharmaceutical companies or the Medicines Australia Monitoring Committee. Only about half of the complaints resulted in a breach of the Code being found. Table 1 shows the complaints where at least one breach was identified and more details can be found in the full report.2

Table Breaches of the Code of Conduct July 2009 – June 2010
Company Brand (generic) name Material or activity Sanction imposed by
Code of Conduct Committee
Allergan Botox (botulinum toxin) Promotional material $100 000 fine
Withdraw material
Corrective letter
Biogen Idec Tysabri (natalizumab) Promotional material $75 000 fine
Withdraw material
Corrective advertisement
Boehringer Ingelheim Mobic (meloxicam) Advertorial $50 000 fine
Corrective advertisement
CSL Human papillomavirus vaccine Information for the public $1000 fine
Various Starter packs $1000 fine
Genzyme Renagel (sevelamer) Patient education leaflet $25 000 fine
Withdraw material
Corrective letter
GlaxoSmithKline Valtrex (valaciclovir) Advertising to the public $150 000 fine reduced to $20 000 on appeal
Merck Sharp & Dohme – Hospitality for specialists $20 000 fine
– Hospitality for specialists $40 000 fine
– Hospitality for specialists $50 000 fine reduced to $10 000 on appeal
Pharmalink Pletal (cilostazol) Hospitality for specialists and general practitioners $50 000 fine
sanofi-aventis Copaxone (glatiramer) Promotional material $25 000 fine
Withdraw material
Corrective letter
Clexane (enoxaparin) Promotional material Corrective letter
Schering Plough Olmetec (olmesartan) Promotional material $35 000 fine
Withdraw material
Servier Coversyl (perindopril) Promotional material $100 000 fine
Withdraw material
Corrective letter (Requirement for corrective advertisement removed on appeal)
 

References

  1. Medicines Australia. Code of Conduct. 16th ed. 2009.www.medicinesaustralia.com.au[cited 2010 Nov 16]
  2. Medicines Australia. Code of Conduct Annual Report 2010. www.medicinesaustralia.com.au[cited 2010 Nov 16]