Global pharmaceutical company Sanofi has received a Public Reprimand from the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) after a complaint was filed by Pfizer.
The PMCPA investigated the case (CASE/0689/08/25) and found that Sanofi had breached several rules of the 2024 ABPI Code of Practice, which sets standards for how pharmaceutical companies should promote their medicines in the UK.
A Public Reprimand is one of the strongest actions the PMCPA can take. It is used in serious cases where a company is found to have failed to meet the required standards. The decision is made public so that healthcare professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, and the public are aware of the outcome.
The PMCPA found that Sanofi had breached a number of Code clauses, including Clause 2, which relates to conduct that could damage the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry. The company was also found in breach of several other clauses covering promotional claims and compliance requirements.
As part of the PMCPA process, Sanofi must stop the activities that breached the Code, confirm that corrective actions have been taken, and put measures in place to prevent similar issues in the future.
The detailed case report and the Public Reprimand have been published on the PMCPA website. The case highlights the importance of ensuring that pharmaceutical promotional materials are accurate, balanced, and fully comply with the ABPI Code of Practice.
