ABPI ruling regarding Shire press release

In June 2012 Shire issued a press release with the results of a head to head trial between VPRIV (Shire Human Genetics) and Cerezyme (Genzyme-Sanofi) and the effect that each had on Gaucher related bone disease.

In August 2012, we posted the press release on our website with a statement that whilst the results of this trial were extremely encouraging it was important to note that it appeared the two groups of patients involved in the trial were not well matched in relation to bone mineral density (the patients treated with VPRIV having the more severe bone disease) and it is a common finding in general that patients with the most deviation from normal will improve the most and that patients with normal findings will not improve at all.

Following the press release by Shire, Genzyme – Sanofi made a complaint to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) on the grounds that Shire were in breach of the ABPI Code of Conduct as the information and results reported in the press release were inaccurate, unbalanced and not a fair representation of the facts. An investigation was undertaken by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority which polices the code and the complaint was upheld with Shire being found guilty of 10 breaches.

A full report of the findings can be found at www.pmcpa.org.uk