Promotion of Nurofen Plus by Pharmica Ltd - December 2023
Published 7 February 2024
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As part of MHRA routine scrutiny, a webpage advertisement for Nurofen Plus on the website for a treatment-service provider called https://pharmica.uk raised concerns that the material did not meet the quality standards required for all advertising for medicinal products in the UK.
Nurofen Plus is a medicine with P (Pharmacy) legal status, which contains the active ingredients ibuprofen and codeine. Advertising should take special care to promote the rational use of codeine-containing products. Best practice on the advertising and promotion of over-the-counter medicines containing codeine outlines that advertising should not place particular emphasis on power or strength (Proprietary Association of Great Britain).
Regulation 280 of the Human Medicines Regulations states that advertisements for medicinal products must: be consistent with the Summary of Product Characteristics; support rational use of the product by presenting it objectively and without exaggerating its qualities; and must not mislead. Chapter 4 of the MHRA Blue Guide outlines these legal requirements for quality standards.
Pharmica Ltd agreed to review its promotional copy for the product to ensure it met the overall quality standards for advertisement, and to ensure it was consistent with best-practice guidance for promotion of medicines that contain codeine.