U.K. lobby group, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has issued a two-year sanction against Novo Nordisk after it found the Danish drugmaker in breach of its code of practice.
The sanction has been linked to an online campaign on LinkedIn where Novo Nordisk allegedly sponsored courses on weight management for healthcare providers. While Novo sponsored the training, the drugmaker failed to clarify whether the training organized was promotional or non-promotional, especially considering that Novo sells the weight loss drug Saxenda in the U.K.
Additionally, Novo is also the market leader in the area of weight loss through medicinal treatment. Since first coming out with Saxenda, the company has now developed a more effective obesity treatment called Wegovy which is being set up for its launch in the U.K.
In light of this, the move has been described as an attempt to bribe healthcare practitioners to prescribe the drug. In its defense however, Novo has clarified that its only intent for sponsoring the training was to ensure that providers received training from a reputable source, and while dispelling their role as sponsors, they maintained a professional distance with practitioners.
The ABPI panel eventually came to the conclusion that the two-year training aimed at training healthcare providers to set up weight loss devices was clearly linked to the promotion of Saxenda. The goal was to increase the consumption of the drug and as such the panel decide to issue appropriate sanctions to ensure a rapid return to industry compliance standards as set out in the ABPI Code of Practice.
Regarding the suspension, Susan Rienow, ABPI’s president-elect said that the Board was able to identify serious concerns with Novo’s compliance activities and these measures taken should not be taken lightly.
In response, a Novo spokesperson said, “While we are disappointed with this outcome, we accept the decision. We will remain committed to following the ABPI Code of Practice and maintaining the highest possible ethical standards required by the pharmaceutical industry.”
Despite not having access to the wider membership benefits at the moment Novo will still be held to the ABPI code. The drugmaker will not, however, have any access to any ABPI information and briefing nor will it be part of any organization groups including the board during the suspension. After the two-year suspension period is over, Novo is expected to share its 2023 and 2024 audits showing clear improvement if it wants its membership reinstated.
This is Novo’s eighth altercation with the ABPI in the last 4 decades and apart from them, the company has also been in hot waters with The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), U.K.’s drug marketing regulator, which back in December, issued Novo and several other pharma companies reprimands for breaching various codes.
Only last year Novo was indicted on 11 violations of the ABPI code.
The current suspension has also triggered the departure of Pinder Sahota, Novo’s British business head from his role as the ABPI President. Sahota had explained how he did not want to act as a distraction to the association as they completed the investigation.
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