Advert - Novo Nordisk – Case AUTH/3525/6/21

Advert - Novo Nordisk – Case AUTH/3525/6/21

 


For arrangements regarding Novo Nordisk’s involvement in the provision of a service by a third party training provider, including in relation to the payment of Patient Group Direction’s (PGDs) for individual health professionals, which brought discredit upon, and reduced confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry, Novo Nordisk was ruled in breach of the following clauses of the 2019 Code:

 


Clause 2           - Bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry

Clause 9.1        - Failing to maintain high standards and secondly for failing to certify promotional material

Clause 4.1        - Failing to include prescribing information

Clause 9.10      - Failing to indicate, at the outset, that the training and offer of PGDs  was sponsored by Novo Nordisk

Clause 12.1      - Disguised promotion

Clause 18.1      - Offering a benefit to individual health professionals that did not meet the requirements of the Code and was considered an inducement to prescribe, supply, administer and/or recommend Saxenda

Clause 22.4      - Failing to disclose, at the outset, in all of the papers relating to the meetings that the training had been sponsored by Novo Nordisk

 


The Appeal Board publicly reprimanded Novo Nordisk and reported the company to the ABPI Board which required that the company undergo an audit.  On consideration of the report of the audit and Novo Nordisk’s comments upon it, the ABPI Board would then decide whether any further action was required.