Bayer UK found in breach of NOAH Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines
27th February 2020
The NOAH Code of Practice on Promotion of Animal Medicines Committee met on 31 January 2020, with Guy Tritton as Chair, to hear Case 300.
This involved a complaint referred to the Committee by Boehringer Ingelheim, regarding statements made to veterinary practices by sales representatives of Bayer UK in a number of sales territories about the efficacy of NexGard Spectra® to prevent angiostrongylosis. The statements referred to false case reports about NexGard Spectra® and its efficacy. All such reports were false.
Once notified of the communications activity, to its credit, Bayer UK took steps to address the matter with the sales representatives and stop the communication of this information.
It was accepted by Bayer UK that the reports were false and that the statements should not have been made and that this conduct breached clauses 4.3, 4.4 and 11.2 of the Code.
The Code of Practice Committee decided that the conduct of Bayer UK’s representatives was also in breach of Clause 3.1 of the NOAH Code, which states: “A Promotion must never be such as to bring discredit upon, or reduce confidence in, the animal medicines industry”.
The NOAH Code emphasises the importance in the public interest of providing accurate, fair and objective information on animal medicines so that rational decisions for prescribing can be made.
More details of Case 300 are available here https://www.noah.co.uk/services/our-code-of-practice/2020-cases/.
Notes for Editors
For further information on NOAH contact Dawn Howard at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the code section of the NOAH website.
NOAH represents the UK animal health industry. Its aim is to promote the benefits of safe, effective, quality products and services for the health and welfare of all animals.
More details of Case 300 are available here https://www.noah.co.uk/services/our-code-of-practice/2020-cases/