Code Clarity

Deciding whether something is promotional sounds easy? We put three common assumptions to the test: Does mentioning the brand name automatically make it promotional? If prescribing information is included, does that make it promotional? If a rep discusses it, is it always promotional? The answers may not be what you expect. Whether you work in commercial, medical, compliance or at an agency, this...

New agencies bring fresh thinking and ideas pharma teams love to see. But some of the most exciting pitches can create compliance problems from the start. In this podcast, we discuss innovative concepts and cover how agencies can build compliance into the creative process whilst pharma should ensure agency competency and whose responsibility is it anyway...?! Essential listening for agency teams n...

Rina & Jean discuss where Case/0685/08/25 the PMCPA talked about what Lilly should have known was foreseeable. Does this mean we all go out and but crystal balls?

Event organisers, publishers and agencies work with lots of pharma companies, and they tell us the same things again and again. Rina & Jean share the top 3 issues. Hear more at our conference on how pharma and third parties can navigate compliance together (& make life easier for everyone).

We look at what went wrong, how doctors.net has tightened things up since, and what we'd have suggested. If your brand, med comms or agency team uses third-party media publishers, this one's for you. The lesson is that outsourcing the channel doesn't outsource the responsibility! Cases: 0748/09/25, 0832-0838/12/25

Grab a biccie & cuppa as we gossip about the GSK campaign complaints (Cases: 0269 , 0568 & 0874 ) .... genuine gasps from Rina when Jean explains how the "courtesy copy" bit them in the bum

It's faster, and done right, good for everyone at the table. So why does the PMCPA's Abridged Procedure remain the road less travelled? Rina & Jean investigate the case for using it more: the benefits for companies facing complaints, for complainants seeking resolution, and for the PMCPA itself. If it works this well, what's holding the PMCPA back?

The PMCPA has released its 2025 Annual Report - but does the data point to a genuinely transformational year, or business as usual? In this episode, Rina & Jean dig into the numbers to ask the question everyone in pharma is thinking: are companies actually getting more compliant, or are complaints simply getting worse?

Whether you are a new or seasoned signatory, the question of signatory standards is worth considering. Two experienced signatories (Rina & Jean) chat about 3 of the most important standards (the full 10 will be discussed in detail at our subscribers webinar on 17 Sept 26 - get in touch at hello@codeclarity.co.uk if you are not a subscriber).

Why does this matter to you? Because for the first time 'it happened ages ago' is now a legitimate defence (within limits). PMCPA Q&A on policy here .

No boring Code training: Rina & Jean summarise their webinar (free for subscribers) on Social Media Case ruling trends. To subscribe contact hello@codeclarity.co.uk

One third-party event, three pharma company sponsors & three complaints. All about the same thing - sponsorship declarations. If you organise third party events sponsored by pharma, Rina & Jean summarise what you can do to make compliance easier. (Cases/0556/04/25;/0557/04/25 & /0558/04/25)

A recent ruling found a MSL presenting at a promotional meeting no breach but why? Was it a technicality or a new PMCPA position?

Rina & Jean discuss the criteria in determing if a meeting is compliant. Venue is only one!

Rina & Jean discuss a recently published PMCPA ruling vs GSK about their corporate ad - placed before a finance podcast for the public. Was this actually promotion to the public or genuinely good corporate affairs work?

Theramex is the third UK pharma company to leave PMCPA jurisdiction in three years (Sandoz 2023, Evolus 2024, Theramex 2026). Does that reflect increasing rules, companies avoiding audit, or self-regulation management of issues? Rina & Jean discuss how we got here and what it means for the future of self-regulation.

Competence is not just about job titles. Rina & Jean discuss why real skills and practical experience remain essential to understanding the INTENT behind the Code to applying JUDGEMENT in complex approval scenarios. The Code Clarity Final Signatory & AQP Collections are available now .

In this episode, Rina and Jean discuss what happens when senior global leaders speak about medicines in UK national media - and why even well-intentioned interviews can cross into promotion of prescription-only medicines to the public. (Full cases here: 0277 & 0518 ) The takeaway is surprisingly simple. Only 3 minutes for our ONE top tip.

Patient stories are powerful and that’s exactly why pharma want to use them. In this episode, Rina and Jean analyse three AstraZeneca videos that used patient testimony describing treatment as “the best”, and why that language ultimately led to PMCPA breaches. A must-listen for anyone approving patient-facing or patient-led materials under the ABPI Code. (Case/0360/11/24 & /0355/11/24 & /0...

In this episode, Rina and Jean dissect the new PMCPA social media guidance  and highlight three key changes that add clarity for pharma companies. Essential listening for anyone signing off or posting pharma content online.

The PMCPA has published 14 page guidance on Package Deals. We cut through the fluff and tell you what you need to know & why reviewing existing arrangements now matters for compliance and transparency.

Can a venue name alone imply excess? Rina and Jean unpack a recent case (Case/0440/01/25) where a meeting held at a “beach hotel” was perceived as lavish. They discuss how optics, assumptions, and language can affect judgment, and why facts still matter most in compliance decisions.

As MLR queues grow, complexity increases & review pain/boredom set in...there's good news for everyone! Rina & Jean are joined by Harry Bliss & Dan Bentley from Siguru to discuss how AI can help approval teams move from bottleneck to breakthrough, without compromising compliance. To find out more about AI-enabled MLR support, visit www.siguru.ai

Rina and Jean look ahead to UK pharma compliance in 2026, including likely complaint hotspots, familiar risk areas and the big question of PMCPA modernisation.

Two recent PMCPA cases (0273 & 3882) highlight a surprisingly simple point: using images that don’t reflect real patients doesn’t automatically mean a breach. We unpack what the rulings tell us about context, accuracy and visual representation in pharma comms - and why it matters for your next campaign. Images can be seen here.