Clauses of The ABPI Code of Practice that deal with market research.

Clause 5 Overarching Requirements

5.6 Material relating to medicines and their uses, whether promotional or not, and information relating to human health or diseases which is sponsored by a pharmaceutical company or in which a pharmaceutical company has any other involvement, must clearly indicate the role of that pharmaceutical company.

The only exception to this is market research material if it is such that the name of the company involved is not required to be stated; then the material must state that it is commissioned by a pharmaceutical company.

Clause 8 Certification and Examination – Supplementary Information

8.3 Examination of Other Material

Material issued by companies which is not required to be certified under the Code should be examined by a signatory or an AQP, who needs not be a signatory, to ensure that it does not contravene the Code or the relevant statutory requirements. Such material might include corporate advertising, press releases, market research material, financial information to inform shareholders, the Stock Exchange and the like, and written responses from medical information departments or similar to unsolicited enquiries from the public etc.

 Clause 24 Contracted Services

24.1 Health professionals, other relevant decision makers or their employers on their behalf, healthcare organisations, patient organisations, individuals representing patient organisations, and members of the public, including patients and journalists, may be used as consultants and advisors, whether in groups or individually, for services such as speaking at and chairing meetings, involvement in medical/ scientific studies, clinical trials or training services, writing articles and/or publications, participation at advisory board meetings, and participation in market research where such participation may involve remuneration and/or hospitality

Clause 25 Relationships with Health Professionals, Other Relevant Decision Makers, Healthcare Organisations and Patient Organisations

25.4 Market research activities, clinical assessments, post-marketing surveillance and experience programmes, post-authorisation studies (including those that are retrospective in nature), and the like must not be disguised promotion. They must be conducted with a primarily scientific or educational purpose.

Clause 25 Supplementary Information

Clause 25.4 Market Research

Market research is the collection and analysis of information and must be unbiased and non-promotional. The use to which the statistics or information is put may be promotional. The two phases must be kept distinct.

Attention is drawn to the Legal & Ethical Guidelines for Healthcare Market Research produced by the British Healthcare Business Intelligence Association.

Market research material should be examined to ensure that it does not contravene the Code.

Where market research is carried out by an agency on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, the agency must reveal the name of its client to the PMCPA when requested to do so.

When commissioning market research, a company must take steps to ensure that its identity would be made known to the PMCPA should a request for that information be made.