December 2025 Promotion of a Prescription-Only Medicine by Aberdeen Journals Ltd on The Press and Journal website
Published 9 January 2026
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A member of the public complained about an article on the topic of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a Prescription-Only Medicine (POM) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes or weight management, which appeared on the online version of The Press and Journal on 07 October 2025.
MHRA upheld the complaint. We considered that the article could be interpreted as an advertisement for a medicinal product under the scope of the Human Medicines Regulations. The Regulations prohibit the publication of an advertisement to the public that is likely to lead to use of a POM.
MHRA considered that the article’s content, together with direct references to the named POM and to a UK source of supply, was considered to encourage use of the product through favourable claims and was likely to lead a member of the public to request a POM from a healthcare provider.
Aberdeen Journals Ltd confirmed that they would amend the article in question. Additionally, the organisation said they were preparing an internal guide for editorial teams to ensure future content that reports on medicinal products adheres to MHRA guidance for journalists, which was welcomed by MHRA.
The MHRA has issued guidance for journalists about reporting and providing information to the public on medicines. This provides advice on how to stay within the law on the advertising of medicines by keeping information factual and balanced and not to actively encourage readers to seek a particular prescription product from a healthcare provider. The guidance can be found at Appendix 5 of the Blue Guide.