Chiesi, Eli Lilly and Bayer named for breaches of the ABPI Code of Practice

The UK subsidiaries of Italy’s Chiesi, US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) and Germany’s Bayer (BAY: DE) have been named in advertisements for breaches of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) Code of Practice, and Bayer Schering Pharma has been publicly reprimanded.

Chiesi, Lilly and Bayer Healthcare have each breached Clause 2 of the ABPI Code of Practice. To highlight these breaches and the public reprimand, all are the subject of advertisements in the medical, pharmaceutical and nursing press. The disciplinary move carries no fine or penalty other than public criticism and corrective action. Summaries of the cases are as follows:

Bayer Schering Pharma – Case AUTH/2333/7/10
For being involved in the generation and distribution of a prescribing policy document on its erectile dysfunction drug vardenafil (Levitra) that was described as being “Supported by an educational grant,” Bayer Schering Pharma was ruled in breach of the following clause of the Code: