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UK industry body finds AstraZeneca in breach of code over Symbicort marketing
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 24, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
AstraZeneca breached UK code with misleading Symbicort claims, prompting updates to their marketing to align with guidelines.
(Reuters) -AstraZeneca has breached the UK pharmaceutical industry's code of practice, an industry self-regulatory body ruled on Friday, after incorrect claims related to the drugmaker's asthma treatment Symbicort.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) said a website incorrectly stated that all newly diagnosed asthma patients aged 12 and above should receive AstraZeneca's Symbicort as an "as-needed" reliever therapy.
That claim did not reflect national guidelines, it said, which recommend that highly symptomatic patients or those with severe exacerbations should instead be prescribed a different treatment involving regular daily dosing plus as-needed use.
"We take PMCPA findings extremely seriously and our processes are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with the Code," an AstraZeneca spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The drugmaker was found in breach of four clauses of the code set by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, including making misleading claims about Symbicort. PMCPA is a division of the association.
Symbicort, one of AstraZeneca's most well-known and lucrative drugs, is a combination inhaler used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It made the company nearly $3 billion in revenue last year.
In a response to the industry regulator, the company accepted that the claim was misleading, but disputed that patient safety was jeopardised.
The watchdog said the breach raised genuine patient safety concerns as highly symptomatic patients could be inadvertently prescribed unsuitable treatment, potentially resulting in poor symptom control or persistent exacerbations.
AstraZeneca argued that both treatment approaches use the same maximum daily dose and the website included links to full prescribing information and national guidelines, though it updated the web page immediately after receiving the complaint.
(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Janane Venkatraman)
Compliance refers to the act of adhering to laws, regulations, and guidelines set by governing bodies or industry standards. In the pharmaceutical industry, it ensures that companies follow ethical practices in marketing and product safety.
A pharmaceutical code of practice is a set of guidelines that govern the marketing and promotion of pharmaceutical products. It ensures that companies provide accurate information and maintain ethical standards in their communications.
Symbicort is a combination inhaler used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It contains two active ingredients that help to reduce inflammation and relax the airways, making it easier to breathe.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is an independent body that oversees the pharmaceutical industry's compliance with its code of practice. It investigates complaints and ensures that marketing practices are ethical and truthful.
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