Code of Conduct - Question & Answers

2. Advertising & Information Dissemination

Question 1:
We are co-marketing a product with another pharma company, and are in the process of designing an online, DIN-protected patient compliance site for one of their older prescription products. This product is no longer being detailed by their field force, and is considered a "non-promoted" product. The only investment by the company at this time is in a sampling program. Since our company is designing an online program only, the best way for us to get the message out to patients about this program is through an insert into the samples that get shipped to the doctor's office for distribution. This idea has been cleared through the pharma company's medical and regulatory dept. It would simply be dropped into the 5" x 2" product sample box (pills are in a blister package inside the box). On the insert will be the DIN-protected site URL and a description (i.e. Go to www._____.ca for important product information and tips on living well with_____). We want to make sure this insert has some longevity, so that they do not throw it away or misplace it before they get a chance to go online and log in. My question is around format. Can this information be placed on a small magnet so that they can put it on their computer, or a "sticky tack" strip or vinyl cling that they can place on their computer monitor? Or, for some reason, am I limited to a card only.

Response:
From an Rx&D perspective we need to look at the vehicle that is being proposed to remind the patient as to the website. With regards the actual content of the website this will fall under PAAB.
With regards to the vehicle reminding the patient as to the website, it is recommend that as the IPRC has previously ruled against items such as magnets, that the company simply remind the patient by means of a card with the website name only. Any kind of branding, dosage or product statements added to the card should be approved by PAAB.