Cephalon in trouble over party spirit
pharmafile | February 11, 2011 | News story | Medical Communications | ABPI, ABPI Code of Practice, Cephalon, PMCPA, industry reputation
Cephalon has been criticised by UK authorities for bankrolling “excessive” hospitality at a conference in Lisbon.
The company was cited by the PMCPA, which enforces the UK industry’s self-regulatory Code of Practice, for half a dozen breaches following a European congress in 2009.
The ruling follows a complaint from an anonymous former employee of the company, who was prompted to act after seeing an internal feedback document on the event.
This talked about the hospitality given to 13 health professionals whose attendance in Portugal was sponsored by Cephalon.
Phrases used in the document included “took them clubbing” and “we then went to a few bars and to a club until 3am – a few good photos to prove it!!!”.
It ended: “All the customers were really looked after and spoke positively about Fentora – lets make sure they start Rxing now!”.
The drug is indicated for the treatment of breakthrough pain in adults with cancer who are already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain.
The feedback document had been distributed to sales teams, and the PMCPA panel felt recipients would “assume that it represented accepted practice with regard to hospitality”.
This breached clause 15.9, which says briefing material must not advocate – directly or indirectly – any action which would be likely to lead to a breach of the Code.
Early morning bar bills included the purchase of spirits and cocktails, and on one evening the group watched fire-eaters, finishing at 3am.
The panel felt that the impression given – of a general party atmosphere, recorded on camera – was “wholly unacceptable”, breaching clause 9.1 (which says high standards must be maintained at all times).
References to the hospitality provided also brought discredit upon the pharma industry, thus breaching clause 2 of the Code.
The PMCPA said the hospitality went beyond subsistence, contravening clause 19.1 (hospitality must be secondary to the purpose of the meeting).
Also, Cephalon’s representatives had not maintained a high standard of ethical conduct (breaching clause 15.2).
The company did not appeal the ruling.
Adam Hill
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