Roche named and shamed for Code breaches

pharmafile | September 2, 2008 | News story | Sales and Marketing |  ABPI, ethics 

Roche has been named and shamed in the medical press for breaching the ABPI's Code of Practice.

Adverts about the case appeared in the British Medical Journal and The Pharmaceutical Journal last week highlighting the pharma company's behaviour.

This led in July to Roche being suspended from the ABPI for at least six months after an investigation found the company had brought discredit on the pharmaceutical industry.

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The case concerned Roche's inappropriately supply of Xenical to the operator of several private diet clinics between 2003 and 2005.

The individual concerned was not a health professional and so the company was found guilty of selling a prescription only medicine to a member of the public.

Roche had also agreed to give £55,000, which was already paid in part, to the same person to purchase another private diet clinic.

This breached the Code on three separate counts, and Roche will now have to pass an external audit of its procedures before it can regain its membership.

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