UK body raps Sanofi for disparaging Pfizer's RSV jab
Sanofi been found to be in breach of the UK pharma industry's code of practice over a newspaper article in which it compared its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) drug Beyfortus with a Pfizer rival.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) came to its conclusion after investigating a complaint from Pfizer over an interview given by a senior Sanofi executive in the Observer newspaper – apparently Sanofi chief executive Paul Hudson himself – which appeared in October 2024.
The complaint claimed that the article, which was a profile piece on an unnamed executive, promoted antibody-based RSV preventive therapy Beyfortus (nirsevimab) to the public with unbalanced and misleading claims, and disparaged Pfizer's Abrysvo vaccine.
Both products can be used in the UK to provide protection against RSV disease in certain settings. Abrysvo was cleared for NHS use in 2023 and is offered to pregnant women (typically from 28 to 36 weeks of gestation) to protect their infants after birth, while Beyfortus got a green light last year for use in premature babies before 32 weeks.
According to Pfizer, Sanofi's CEO referred to data in the article from Spain – where Beyfortus is cleared for use in normal term newborns – on reduced RSV hospitalisation rates in babies treated with the antibody at less than six months.
That amounted to a promotional efficacy claim that is against the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) code of practice, the company contended, whilst also taking issue with a statement in the article that the UK's decision to plump for Abrysvo was based on a "financial choice," rather than efficacy, adding: "If you're choosing for a clinical benefit, you would choose Beyfortus."
Pfizer also said it had started an intercompany dialogue with Sanofi about the incident but had not been able to resolve the matter.
Sanofi argued that some of the comments made were written by the journalist and not direct quotes, and also that it had asked to have one claim removed, which was denied by The Observer. Nevertheless, the review concluded that given the prominence of the publication, it was "critical that the global senior leader exercised caution given the interview topics could range from their hobbies on the one hand, to being asked about prescription only medicines on the other."
Sanofi was found to have breached the ABPI code on seven counts, including bringing discredit upon, and reducing confidence in, the pharma industry, making misleading and unsubstantiated claims, disparaging another company's medicines, and providing unbalanced information to the public to encourage them to ask for a specific prescription-only medicine.
Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash
