AUTH/3926/6/24 - Complainant v Pfizer

Allegations about promotion on social media

  • Received
    13 June 2024
  • Case number
    AUTH/3926/6/24
  • Applicable Code year
    2021
  • Completed
    06 May 2025
  • No breach Clause(s)
  • Breach Clause(s)
  • Sanctions applied
    Undertaking received
  • Additional sanctions
  • Appeal
    No appeal

Case Summary

This case was in relation to two LinkedIn posts: one was made by a UK health authority, the other by an employee of that organisation. Both posts mentioned Pfizer’s medicine, voxelotor, in the context of the publication of a NICE recommendation and included a link to an article published on the health authority’s website. The complainant alleged that the posts had been ‘liked/loved’ by a Pfizer UK employee.

The outcome under the 2021 Code was:

Breach of Clause 26.1 (x2)

Advertising a prescription only medicine to the public

 

No Breach of Clause 5.1

Requirement to maintain high standards at all times

No Breach of Clause 2

Requirement that activities or materials must not bring discredit upon, or reduce confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry

This summary is not intended to be read in isolation.
For full details, please see the full case report below.