The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) is the trade association for research-based pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK. On June 13, 2011 the organization issued “Guidance Notes on the Management of Adverse Events and Product Complaints from Pharmaceutical Company Sponsored Websites.”
The document recommends that when “listening” on non-pharma sponsored sites, adverse events (AEs) and product complaints (PCs) should be monitored and reported. Details of all AEs/PCs for the company’s products (branded or generic) should be collected and documented, regardless of:
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Seriousness of the event |
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Whether there is an identifiable reporter |
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Whether any adverse events are listed in the product’s Summary of Product Characteristics |
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Whether a definite causal relationship or link to the product has been stated |
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Whether the stakeholder or patient has already reported the event to the competent authority or says they have reported it to the company |
In April, the UK’s Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority published "informal guidance" on social media.
While in the U.S. we are without formal guidance, there are plenty of social media tactics that biopharma can safely leverage.
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