PFIZER has been fined for breaches of the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct over misleading promotional material for the arthritis drug celecoxib (Celebrex) and pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar 13.
The separate complaints resulted in fines of $35,000 and $10,000 respectively and orders to cease using the misleading claims.
The $35,000 fine was imposed for claims about celecoxib contained on the cover of promotional material that implied osteoarthritis caused other conditions, including depression, sleep disorders, neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain. The complaint was made by a health professional.
Initially Pfizer was also found to be in breach of the code on another count, for a comparison to oral opioid analgesics. An $85,000 fine was imposed for the two breaches.
Medical Observer, 23rd Jan 2013
