Novartis found in breach
of NOAH Code on promotion

At its latest meeting, the NOAH Code of Practice Committee, chaired by Richard Arnold QC, heard one case.

Novartis Animal Health were found in breach in respect of two items under complaint in respect of promotion of Fortekor.

The Committee considered that the first item complained of encouraged the prescription of Fortekor for dogs with NYHA Stage 1 Mitral Valve Disease and therefore was inconsistent with the SPC because such dogs do not have heart failure as opposed to MVD.

The Committee considered that the second item complained of was disparaging of a competitor's product since it failed to make it clear that the study cited concerned off-label use of the competitor’s product and since it presented the conclusions of the study with regard to the competitor’s product in an unduly negative manner. For the same reasons the Committee considered that the item complained of was not a balanced presentation of the study.

NOAH encourages those interested in finding out more to read the full details of the Committee’s rulings on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code.

23 November 2007

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website, www.noah.co.uk/code

2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 31 corporate members and 9 associate members. In 2006 the NOAH sales survey showed a total market of £373.2m, around 90% of the total UK market.

3. Since 1974 the animal medicine industry has regulated the contents and quality of advertisements, leaflets and promotional activities under its Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines which is obligatory for all NOAH members and companies participating in the NOAH Datasheet Compendium. The Code is administered by a committee of 15, including an independent chairman, veterinary and farming members as well as elected industry experts.

4. This release summarises the Code of Practice Committee meeting on 23 March 2007