Clause 26 Relations with the Public, Including Patients and Journalists

Clause 26
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26

26.1

(26.1) Prescription only medicines must not be advertised to the public. This prohibition does not apply to vaccination and other campaigns carried out by companies and approved by the health ministers.

most recent cases See all Applicable Code year
Applicable Code year

Please check the date of the Code that applies to the Case that you are looking at. The date of the complaint may vary from the activity/material alleged to have been in breach.

AUTH/3786/6/23 - Complainant v AbbVie Breach: 5.1, 5.2, 26.1 No breach: 2, 3.3, 5.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.9 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 29 June 2023 Completed: 22 August 2024 AUTH/3784/6/23 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 26.1 No breach: 2, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 June 2023 Completed: 20 August 2024 AUTH/3775/6/23 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 5.2, 26.1 No breach: 2, 9.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 June 2023 Completed: 14 August 2024 AUTH/3717/12/22 - Complainant v Novo Nordisk Breach: 2, 5.1, 6.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 5.1, 6.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 October 2022 Completed: 17 June 2024 AUTH/3749/3/23 - Complainant v AGB Breach: 16.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 02 March 2023 Completed: 15 May 2024 AUTH/3758/4/23 - Complainant v ALK-Abelló Breach: 5.1, 17.2, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 04 April 2023 Completed: 10 May 2024 AUTH/3743/2/23: - Complainant v BioMarin Breach: 5.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 February 2023 Completed: 02 May 2024 AUTH/3745/2/23 - Complainant v Tetris Breach: 5.1, 12.3, 12.9, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 08 February 2023 Completed: 03 April 2024 AUTH/3707/11/22 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 8.1, 8.6, 12.9, 26.1 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 16 November 2022 Completed: 05 March 2024 AUTH/3710/11/22 - Complainant v Merck Sharp & Dohme Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 21 November 2022 Completed: 03 January 2024 AUTH/3742/2/23 - Voluntary admission by Takeda UK Limited Breach: 3.1, 5.1, 8.1, 11.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 16 February 2023 Completed: 29 November 2023 AUTH/3700/10/22 - Health professional v Ethypharm Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 22 October 2022 Completed: 12 October 2023 AUTH/3684/8/22 - Complainant v Bayer Breach: 3.2, 5.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.9, 16.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 12.8, 13.2, 13.6, 24.4 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 August 2022 Completed: 22 September 2023 AUTH/3687/8/22 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 11.2, 26.1 No breach: 2, 3.1, 3.3, 3.6, 5.1, 11.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 18 August 2022 Completed: 18 August 2023 AUTH/3637/4/22 - Complainant v Daiichi Sankyo Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 April 2022 Completed: 24 May 2023 AUTH/3599/1/22 - Hospital consultant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 26.1, 26.2, 5.5 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 16 January 2022 Completed: 11 April 2023 AUTH/3623/3/22 - Complainant v Aimmune Breach: 3.2, 3.4, 5.1, 5.6, 8.1, 12.1, 12.4, 12.6, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 16.1, 26.1 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 15 March 2022 Completed: 24 March 2023 AUTH/3603/1/22 - Complainant v Gilead Breach: 5.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.10, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 20 January 2022 Completed: 22 March 2023 AUTH/3579/11/21 - Health professional v Novartis Breach: 5.1, 6.2, 6.1, 14.4, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.2, 5.5, 9.1, 9.3, 14.1, 14.2, 18.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 08 November 2021 Completed: 09 November 2022 AUTH/3573/10/21 - Complainant v GlaxoSmithKline Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.1, 9.1, 11.1, 12.1, 12.9 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 27 October 2021 Completed: 07 September 2022 AUTH/3561/9/21 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Breach: 2, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1, 11.2, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 3.1, 11.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 24 September 2021 Completed: 19 August 2022 AUTH/3554/8/21 - Anonymous, non-contactable complainant v UCB Breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 27 August 2021 Completed: 03 August 2022 AUTH/3570/10/21 - Complainant v Stallergenes Greer Breach: 5.1, 26.1 No breach: 2, 5.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 19 October 2021 Completed: 21 June 2022 AUTH/3796/7/23 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 3.1, 5.1 No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 July 2023 Completed: 14 August 2024 AUTH/3821/9/23 - Health professional v Novo Nordisk Breach: 2, 9.1, 2, 5.1, 28.1 No breach: 3.4, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2, 28.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 06 September 2023 Completed: 12 August 2024 AUTH/3798/7/23 - Voluntary admission by Bausch & Lomb No breach: 5.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 July 2023 Completed: 05 August 2024 AUTH/3763/4/23 - Complainants v Novo Nordisk Breach: 9.1, 24.4, 5.1, 5.5, 28.1, 31.1 No breach: 19.2, 24.1, 24.8, 24.9, 5.1, 10.9, 12.1, 26.1, 28.1, 28.4, 28.5 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 26 April 2023 Completed: 21 June 2024 AUTH/3734/2/23 - Complainant v Valneva Breach: 5.1, 8.1, 12.9, 15.6 No breach: 2, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 10 February 2023 Completed: 04 June 2024 AUTH/3753/3/23 Complainant v Novavax No breach: 5.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 10 March 2023 Completed: 30 May 2024 AUTH/3761/4/23 - Complainant v Samsung Bioepis Breach: 3.1, 5.1, 8.1 No breach: 16.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 05 April 2023 Completed: 08 May 2024 AUTH/3736/2/23 - Complainant v Advanced Accelerator Applications Breach: 5.1, 6.1 No breach: 2, 5.1, 6.1, 12.10, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 12 February 2023 Completed: 22 March 2024 AUTH/3721/1/23 - Complainant v Pfizer Breach: 5.1 No breach: 2, 12.1, 12.2, 12.4, 12.10, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 03 January 2023 Completed: 04 March 2024 AUTH/3676/7/22 - Complainant v Roche Breach: 23.2, 25.3 No breach: 2, 5.1, 6.5, 12.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 July 2022 Completed: 28 February 2024 AUTH/3737/2/23 Health professional v Novo Nordisk – Breach: 5.1, 11.2, 12.1 No breach: 2, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 13 February 2023 Completed: 27 November 2023 AUTH/3724/1/23 - Complainant v GSK No breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 10 January 2023 Completed: 15 November 2023 AUTH/3691/9/22 - Complainant v GlaxoSmithKline No breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 September 2022 Completed: 13 November 2023 AUTH/3597/1/22 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1 No breach: 2, 3.3, 5.1, 6.2, 8.3, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 05 January 2022 Completed: 08 August 2023 AUTH/3696/10/22 - Complainant v SOBI Allegations about a corporate article No breach: 3.6, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 23.2, 26.1, 27.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 October 2022 Completed: 27 July 2023 AUTH/3645/5/22 - Complainant v Proveca Breach: 5.1, 8.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9 No breach: 2, 5.1, 12.3, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 12 May 2022 Completed: 29 June 2023 AUTH/3625/3/22 - Complainant v Allergan No breach: 2, 8.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9, 15, 16, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 20 March 2022 Completed: 12 April 2023 AUTH/3628/4/22 - Complainant v Novartis No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.1, 12.1, 12.6, 12.9, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 03 April 2022 Completed: 14 March 2023 AUTH/3617/3/22 - Complainant v GlaxoSmithKline No breach: 2, 9.1, 12.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 09 March 2022 Completed: 10 March 2023 AUTH/3612/2/22 - Complainant v Daiichi Sankyo Breach: 2, 5.1, 12.5 No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.2, 12.5, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 19 February 2022 Completed: 23 February 2023 AUTH/3604/1/22 - Complainant v Novo Nordisk Breach: 5.1 No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.3, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 20 January 2022 Completed: 20 February 2023 AUTH/3584/11/21 - Health Professional v Roche No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 22 November 2021 Completed: 15 December 2022 AUTH/3594/12/21 - Health professional v Daiichi-Sankyo Breach: 5.1, 13.8, 9.1, 9.10, 14.3 No breach: 2, 19.2, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 18 December 2021 Completed: 09 December 2022 AUTH/3591/12/21 - A complaint on behalf of UsForThem v Pfizer Breach: 6.1, 6.2, 26.2 No breach: 2, 3.1, 3.3, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 11.3, 14.4, 26.1, 26.2, 26.4 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 December 2021 Completed: 06 December 2022 AUTH/3608/2/22 - Complainant v AstraZeneca No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 08 February 2022 Completed: 21 November 2022 AUTH/3609/2/22 - Voluntary admission by Britannia Pharmaceuticals Breach: 12.1 No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1, 26.4 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 08 February 2022 Completed: 02 November 2022 AUTH/3572/10/21 - Complainant v AstraZeneca No breach: 2, 3.6, 5.1, 5.7, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 October 2021 Completed: 25 August 2022 AUTH/3574/11/21 - Health Professional v GW Pharmaceuticals No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 04 November 2021 Completed: 29 July 2022 AUTH/3569/10/21 - Complainant v Pierre Fabre No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 12 October 2021 Completed: 05 July 2022

26.2

(26.2) Information about prescription only medicines which is made available to the public either directly or indirectly must be factual and presented in a balanced way. It must not raise unfounded hopes of successful treatment or be misleading with respect to the safety of the product.

Statements must not be made for the purpose of encouraging members of the public to ask their health professional to prescribe a specific prescription only medicine.

most recent cases See all Applicable Code year
Applicable Code year

Please check the date of the Code that applies to the Case that you are looking at. The date of the complaint may vary from the activity/material alleged to have been in breach.

AUTH/3717/12/22 - Complainant v Novo Nordisk Breach: 2, 5.1, 6.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 5.1, 6.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 October 2022 Completed: 17 June 2024 AUTH/3710/11/22 - Complainant v Merck Sharp & Dohme Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 21 November 2022 Completed: 03 January 2024 AUTH/3700/10/22 - Health professional v Ethypharm Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 22 October 2022 Completed: 12 October 2023 AUTH/3684/8/22 - Complainant v Bayer Breach: 3.2, 5.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.9, 16.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 12.8, 13.2, 13.6, 24.4 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 August 2022 Completed: 22 September 2023 AUTH/3637/4/22 - Complainant v Daiichi Sankyo Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 April 2022 Completed: 24 May 2023 AUTH/3599/1/22 - Hospital consultant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 26.1, 26.2, 5.5 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 16 January 2022 Completed: 11 April 2023 AUTH/3603/1/22 - Complainant v Gilead Breach: 5.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.10, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 20 January 2022 Completed: 22 March 2023 AUTH/3591/12/21 - A complaint on behalf of UsForThem v Pfizer Breach: 6.1, 6.2, 26.2 No breach: 2, 3.1, 3.3, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 11.3, 14.4, 26.1, 26.2, 26.4 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 11 December 2021 Completed: 06 December 2022 AUTH/3579/11/21 - Health professional v Novartis Breach: 5.1, 6.2, 6.1, 14.4, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.2, 5.5, 9.1, 9.3, 14.1, 14.2, 18.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 08 November 2021 Completed: 09 November 2022 AUTH/3573/10/21 - Complainant v GlaxoSmithKline Breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.1, 9.1, 11.1, 12.1, 12.9 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 27 October 2021 Completed: 07 September 2022 AUTH/3561/9/21 - Ex-employee v AstraZeneca Breach: 2, 5.1, 6.1, 8.1, 11.2, 26.1, 26.2 No breach: 3.1, 11.1, 26.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 24 September 2021 Completed: 19 August 2022 AUTH/3784/6/23 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1, 26.1 No breach: 2, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 June 2023 Completed: 20 August 2024 AUTH/3796/7/23 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 3.1, 5.1 No breach: 2, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 July 2023 Completed: 14 August 2024 AUTH/3821/9/23 - Health professional v Novo Nordisk Breach: 2, 9.1, 2, 5.1, 28.1 No breach: 3.4, 5.1, 26.1, 26.2, 28.1 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 06 September 2023 Completed: 12 August 2024 AUTH/3676/7/22 - Complainant v Roche Breach: 23.2, 25.3 No breach: 2, 5.1, 6.5, 12.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 July 2022 Completed: 28 February 2024 AUTH/3724/1/23 - Complainant v GSK No breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 10 January 2023 Completed: 15 November 2023 AUTH/3691/9/22 - Complainant v GlaxoSmithKline No breach: 5.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 07 September 2022 Completed: 13 November 2023 AUTH/3597/1/22 - Complainant v AstraZeneca Breach: 5.1 No breach: 2, 3.3, 5.1, 6.2, 8.3, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 05 January 2022 Completed: 08 August 2023 AUTH/3645/5/22 - Complainant v Proveca Breach: 5.1, 8.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9 No breach: 2, 5.1, 12.3, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 12 May 2022 Completed: 29 June 2023 AUTH/3659/6/22 - Complainant v Teva Breach: 5.1, 12.6, 12.10, 16.1 No breach: 2, 3.6, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 11.2, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 15 June 2022 Completed: 19 June 2023 AUTH/3625/3/22 - Complainant v Allergan No breach: 2, 8.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9, 15, 16, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 20 March 2022 Completed: 12 April 2023 AUTH/3641/4/22 - Complainant v Teva Breach: 5.1, 8.1, 12.6 No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 28 April 2022 Completed: 23 March 2023 AUTH/3628/4/22 - Complainant v Novartis No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.1, 12.1, 12.6, 12.9, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 03 April 2022 Completed: 14 March 2023 AUTH/3584/11/21 - Health Professional v Roche No breach: 2, 5.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.3, 12.6, 12.8, 12.9, 12.10, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 22 November 2021 Completed: 15 December 2022 AUTH/3594/12/21 - Health professional v Daiichi-Sankyo Breach: 5.1, 13.8, 9.1, 9.10, 14.3 No breach: 2, 19.2, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 18 December 2021 Completed: 09 December 2022 AUTH/3572/10/21 - Complainant v AstraZeneca No breach: 2, 3.6, 5.1, 5.7, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 23 October 2021 Completed: 25 August 2022 AUTH/3574/11/21 - Health Professional v GW Pharmaceuticals No breach: 2, 5.1, 11.1, 26.1, 26.2 Applicable Code: 2021 Received: 04 November 2021 Completed: 29 July 2022

26.3

(18.2 SI) Items for patient support made available to patients, for example, by completing a request card enclosed with a medicine, should be inexpensive, related to either the condition under treatment or general health, and must be appropriately documented and certified in advance as required by Clause 8.3. Care must be taken that any such activity meets all the requirements of the Code and in particular Clause 26.4.

Companies cannot run or sponsor competitions or quizzes for patients if prizes are offered.

26.4

(26.3) Any material which relates to a medicine and which is intended for patients taking that medicine must include the statement below or a similar one:

Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at [a website address which links directly to the MHRA Yellow Card site].

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.’

When the material relates to a medicine which is subject to additional monitoring, an inverted black equilateral triangle must be included on it together with the statement below or a similar one:

‘This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See [a website address which links directly to the MHRA Yellow Card site] for how to report side effects.’

26.5

(26.4) Requests from individual members of the public for advice on personal medical matters must be refused and the enquirer recommended to consult their own doctor, or other prescriber or other health professional.