AstraZeneca and Novartis ‘interpret ABPI rules differently’

Pharmaceutical companies in the UK do not appear to be following new guidelines from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) about the disclosure of links with patient groups, according to a report.

The ABPI introduced new guidelines requesting that drug companies reveal their links with any patient groups and disclose how they are funded. However, not all companies appear to be complying with them in the same way, the Financial Times has revealed.

The newspaper names AstraZeneca and Novartis as believing they do not have to disclose such information until their annual reports are released next spring, despite the fact that other companies have provided names of supported patient groups, but not details of funding.

The ABPI’s head of code practice authority, told the Financial Times: “If companies ring us up and ask, we say they should comply by May 1st.” She added that no complaints had been received about the conduct of any company’s failure to disclose patient group information, although warned they would investigate if this happens.

Some of the listed pharmaceutical companies that have revealed links with patient groups include Wyeth, Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly and Merck.

The ABPI is the UK’s regulatory body for pharmaceutical companies. In February 2006, it suspended Abbott Laboratories from membership for six months after the company was said to have breached the ABPI’s code of practice. Abbott has said it recognised the problems and has implemented changes to prevent any recurrence.

© Adfero Ltd