Decision

Alleged promotion of clozapine on Twitter

Published 12 February 2021

SUMMARY REPORT FOR PUBLICATION

October 2020: Alleged promotion of clozapine on Twitter

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) referred an anonymous uncontactable complaint to the MHRA about an employee of Leyden Delta Limited posting on Twitter. The complainant alleged that the employee’s tweets and retweets mentioning a prescription only medicine – clozapine – could potentially be seen by the public, were alarming, and were an inducement to prescribe this medicine. The PMCPA referred the complaint because Leyden Delta did not respond to their correspondence.

Leyden Delta Limited responded to the MHRA and said that the employee’s twitter account was removed and deactivated at the time they first became aware of the complaint via the PMCPA. MHRA censured the company for not responding to or engaging with the PMCPA. At the request of the MHRA, Leyden Delta Limited provided details of remedial action taken to ensure that their social media policy complies with our guidance in the Blue Guide, and that all staff are aware of company policy on the use of social media.