Promotion of a Prescription-Only Medicine by National World Publishing Ltd on The Scotsman website: March 2025
Published 11 April 2025
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A member of the public complained about an article about Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a prescription-only medicine (POM) for treatment of type 2 diabetes or weight management, which appeared on the online version of The Scotsman on 29 January 2025. The complainant alleged that the article was an advertisement for a POM. Regulation 284 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 prohibits advertisements to the public that are likely to lead to use of a POM.
MHRA upheld the complaint. We considered that the article could be considered as an advertisement for a medicine because its content, together with direct references to a named POM and named references to UK sources of supply, encouraged use of the product. We therefore considered that the article breached UK advertising Regulations because it advertised a POM to the general public.
National World Publishing Ltd confirmed that they have removed the article from all National World Plc platforms, and that they will review their editorial practices to ensure all future content about medicines aligns with MHRA guidance for journalists.
The MHRA has issued guidance for journalists about reporting and providing information to the public on medicines. This provides advice on how to stay within the law on the advertising of medicines by keeping information factual and balanced and not to actively encourage readers to seek a particular prescription product from a healthcare provider. The guidance can be found at Appendix 5 of the Blue Guide.