ABPI Ads Reprimand Astellas UK and Gedeon Richter for Publishing Inaccurate Information

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry will run advertisements later this month in three medical journals listing Astellas UK and Gedeon Richter as in breach of the ABPI’s Code of Practice through the association’s Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority.

Following a voluntary admission about its materials for patient support programs for Betmiga (mirabegron) and Vesicare (solifenacin succinate), both for overactive bladder, the ABPI ruled Astellas had provided inaccurate and out-of-date material, including information on possible side effects, and described its medicine as new for more than 12 months.

Gedeon Richter was cited for distributing a patient leaflet that failed to alert women not to use any form of hormonal contraception while taking Esmya (ulipristal acetate), and for giving inaccurate and misleading information.

The advertisements will name the companies for “bringing discredit upon” and “reducing confidence in” the industry and will appear in the British Medical Journal, the Nursing Standard and the Pharmaceutical Journal between June 17 and 24.