MHRA, ASA and GPhC Warn Businesses Against Promoting Unapproved and Prescription-Only Medicines

UK Regulators Issue Joint Warning to Healthcare and Weight Management Businesses
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) have issued a joint warning to businesses that promote medicines without proper authorization or advertise prescription-only medicines directly to the public.
The warning comes as regulators continue to see examples of companies promoting medicines that are still under regulatory review, as well as prescription-only treatments that cannot legally be advertised to consumers.
Focus on Weight-Loss Medicines and Pipeline Products
According to the regulators, recent concerns involve the promotion of pipeline products, particularly newer oral and injectable treatments for weight management.
Businesses have been advertising waiting lists and future access opportunities for medicines that have either not yet received marketing authorization or are classified as prescription-only medicines (POMs).
Regulators specifically highlighted references to products using terms such as "GLP-1 tablets," "oral GLP-1s," and "new weight-loss tablets." They stated that using such language in public advertising is likely to breach advertising rules, especially when the products are still undergoing regulatory review or require a prescription.
UK Advertising Rules Remain Clear
The authorities reminded businesses that the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code) requires medicines to receive authorization from the MHRA before they can be marketed.
The Code also prohibits the advertising of prescription-only medicines and prescription-only medical treatments directly to members of the public.
This means businesses cannot create consumer demand for medicines that have not yet been approved or encourage.

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