Why are you running illegal adverts for weight loss injections?

[EyeLevelStick]

I expect the MHRA and the ASA will take a very dim view of you promoting Wegovy.

www.asa.org.uk/news/asa-partners-with-mhra-and-gphc-to-reinforce-rules-on-the-advertising-of-weight-loss-drugs-online.html

I can’t imagine caring enough to start a finger wagging thread about this 🤷

How do you know MNHQ actually are running them?

There's been plenty of times dodgy adverts have appeared and they've had to zap them.

At least give them the benefit of doubt.

Have you screenshotted and sent them to [email protected]?

Mnhq should be aware of any and all advertising on their website.

I can't imagine anyone caring enough to post about a thread they don't care about 😂

That's why I'm asking if the OP has made them aware?

They can't glue their eyes to every single thread on every part of the website 24/7, just incase a rogue advert slips through the net.

I didn’t say I did not care about the thread. Did I say that? No.
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

So you care about the thread but not about disingenuous ads by Mumsnet? 🤔 Random!

Is it adverts or the threads which mnhq have actually started themselves and are obviously paid being for starting? Such as the ones in the promoted by MN section

because mnhq obviously know about them. There are even mnhq codes promoted to get discount.

seeing as the ASA say this

Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access,* *said the MHRA took concerns about the illegal promotion of prescription-only weight-loss medicines to the public very seriously.
“The promotion of prescription-only medicines is not only against the law but also puts people’s health at risk.

then I agree I’m very surprised by all the “promoted my MN” threads on the topic. It’s blatant promotion of prescription only drugs. Which as the ASA say is putting peoples health at risk. Seems mnhq will risk their users health and break the law for a quick buck.

I can’t actually link to the threads but they are “stickied” in active convos. Written by MN, prize draws, discount codes, blatant promotion

They created the posts, so they are aware of them.

Yes, exactly this. They are in flagrant breach of the law.

I thought they might care, given other egregious behaviour around product promotion, but no.

these are not offering weight loss drugs based on reading of the ad

They are an advertisement and in breach of the law. See link in my OP.

Weight-loss advice and services can be advertised. Prescription-only drugs cannot be advertised whether named or implied.
The key is that ads must promote the service (consultation, support, clinical review), not the drug itself. which it seems the original mumsnet post was doing as it did not name any drugs or brands plus it was giving people the chance to ask questions so i would not class that as a promotion a

I’m fully aware of the rules. This (for example - this isn’t the one I saw last night) is in breach. https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/what-is-mounjaro

It says “Want to try Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes or obesity treatment?” in its first line.

The link I originally posted signposts this warning https://www.asa.org.uk/news/asa-issues-warning-to-weight-loss-drug-advertisers.html which is unequivocal.

There are several such adverts appearing in this very thread. There’s another for Wegovy.

Difference between advertising and information

• If content is editorial, journalistic, or educational (e.g. NHS website, NICE guidance, a newspaper explainer, mumsnet), it does not count as “advertising.”
• If content is produced by, or commercially linked to, a clinic, pharmacy, or service that supplies Mounjaro, it is advertising, even if it looks like neutral information. That would breach the rules.

I disagree - there is a duty of care to investigate anyone you allow to pay you for advertising

Oh come off it. Do you think these “articles” would exist if Mumsnet wasn’t being paid to write them?

the devil is in the details. i can understand your points. but as its provided as educational etc

@EyeLevelStick - I raised exactly this question on the recent Mounjaro / MedExpress Q&A (https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/sponsored_qas/5358053-have-you-been-considering-medicated-weight-loss-ask-the-medexpress-experts-your-questions?page=5)

Despite MedExpress stating that they would answer "every" question, you'll not be surprised to hear that they did not answer mine!

For those that CBA to RTFT I said, "Are MedExpress members of the ABPI? The ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) Code of Practice regulates the promotion of prescription-only medicines (POMs) in the UK, including how information is provided to the public and patients. Prescription Only Medicines cannot be advertised to the general public. The ABPI Code sets standards for the promotion of prescription-only medicines to healthcare professionals and others involved in prescribing decisions. Critically, the code prohibits the direct advertising of prescription-only medicines to the general public."

This Q&A was hosted by Mumsnet, so they're definitely aware of it.

You don't think it is important to ensure that powerful prescription drugs are marketed appropriately and lawfully?

I guess mn must feel they are operating just on the right side of the law, but it is really hard to see how having a dedicated topic for weight loss promo codes, with end-to-end threads advertising discounts for pens is lawful. It isn't just paid-for advertising that comes under the relevant regs. Social media and influencer posts are also covered.

MN already seem to be hiding these endless adverts from active convos, but that seems to be more about making them less obvious than more compliant.

ABPI Membership

MedExpress is not a pharmaceutical manufacturer.

The ABPI (Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) is the trade body representing research-based pharmaceutical companies (e.g., AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk).

Online pharmacies like MedExpress are distributors/dispensers, not drug developers, so they cannot be members of the ABPI.

So the ABPI Code of Practice does not directly apply to MedExpress.

Have you reported it to mnhq instead of moaning here

@Velvet010 - you're a 100% correct. Nonetheless, while pharmacies aren't directly bound by the ABPI Code, their interactions with pharmaceutical companies should align with the Code's principles to maintain professional and ethical standards.

The ABPI Code primarily targets pharmaceutical companies for promoting their medicines, but it has a direct impact on pharmacies by setting the rules for how pharmaceutical companies can interact with healthcare professionals and the public.

Is it clear if MN has been paid for the article? Because if they have been paid and haven’t made it clear I think that’s also a breach.

Random content creators get bollockings for not making it clear it’s a paid partnership when promoting an item.