Summary report for unlicensed medicinal product by Dermatica Limited
Published 21 January 2022
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December 2021 Promotion of an unlicensed medicinal product by Dermatica Limited
Honest Health Limited complained about an advertisement for an unlicensed medicinal product published from 12 February 2021. The complainant alleged that an advertisement for an unlicensed medicinal product was proactively distributed via social media and made references to prescription-only medicines (POMs) on Dermatica’s website homepage. Regulation 284 prohibits the issue to the general public of an advertisement for a prescription only medicine (POM) which is likely to lead to its use.
MHRA view was that an advertisement for an unlicensed medicinal product proactively distributed via social media is likely in breach of regulation 279 of the Regulations, which prohibits the advertising of a medicinal product that do not have a valid UK Marketing Authorisation or Registration, thus MHRA upheld the complaint. Dermatica Ltd contested MHRA’s view of the interpretation of regulation 279, but confirmed that they have withdrawn the social media advert and removed references to POMs from their website homepage.