Code Clarity

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.

When is a medicine… not a medicine — at least according to the PMCPA? 🤔In this episode, we dig into a fascinating case ( AUTH/3880/2/24 ) where the ruling found no promotion of a medicine on social media. What crossed the line, what didn’t and what does it mean for your next post?

Speakers confirmed, slides ready… but no one shows up. 😬What do you do when a pharma meeting has no audience? Cancel? Pay? Re-run? We chat through compliance, optics and common-sense calls in this scenario.

The PMCPA says (currently) most complaints still stem from social media - and they’re now hinting at a cease-and-desist approach. We unpack what that could mean for pharma whilst everyone is still guessing what “promotional” really means...

It seems the PMCPA's review on defining Medical Education is freezing up ❄️. With the PMCPA’s influence possibly shaping European guidance, and post-Brexit UK now charting its own stricter course, is this the moment to rethink how “medical education” and “promotion” are defined, and what it means for pharma on both sides of the Channel?

Declarations of involvement are causing drama! But they are an easy target which means a quick win for pharma too. We discuss the 5 point-plan the PMCPA don't want you to know - more of this at our conference .

Two PMCPA rulings (one old , one recent ) about an "innocent" drink but involving pharma customers. A casual thank-you or a full-blown breach? Our conference on 4 Nov will discuss commercial push, medical pull and compliance risks.

SOME say UK pharma has “a slow self-regulatory process that fails to ensure compliance” (BMJ letter, Oct 23) WE say it is the PMCPA themselves bringing the industry into disrepute (evidence to be presented at conference) 🛠️What do YOU say? Does self-regulation need fixing? 🎤 Join the conference debate

Another day, another email & another PMCPA case. Can we blame Brexit for Global forgetting the UK is no longer in the EU? Can 21 emails in 3 months ever not be spam? We'll explore how medical publishers can get ahead of pharma's needs. (Case Auth/ 3860/12/23 , 3862/12/23 , 3866/12/23 & 3889/4/24 )