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

Medexpress even stopped the user to user discount code sharing as they said it was illegal. So surprised that a MN discount code is ok.

@YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt - love, love, love your username! Inspired! (Apologies for going off-topic)

No reply from Mumsnet? They have been on Site Stuff today, someone posted in the big advert thread.

A Mumsnet discount code is only defensible if it applies to the whole site, including non-prescription items.

Seems to only be for weight loss.

but maybe they get round it by saying it’s for the “consultation” rather than the actual prescription?

It’s still not “in the spirit” of the law though is it?

What you mean posting in Site Stuff which is where you post when you have an issue with the site?

Well I was kind of hoping MN would read this and do the right thing. Which I thought is what site stuff was for.

Clearly other people are interested, but if you aren’t then maybe this thread isn’t for you?

I will report to ASA if MN don’t give a satisfactory explanation.

There was a massive brand deal of some description in early July. It was discussed on the Weight Loss Injections board (https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5367067-wasnt-there-a-thread-by-mn-partnering-with-med-express?) and a sponsored thread was taken down because so many of us posted on it in criticism.

I imagine Medexpress and MN's lawyers were careful to follow the letter of the law but the spirit of not promoting POM has been merrily ignored. It's very disappointing. Please do raise this OP as our queries and concerns were completely ignored.

But have you actually contacted MNHQ or reported this thread?

Much more chance of them taking a look at it if so.

But have you actually contacted MNHQ or reported this thread?

Much more chance of them taking a look at it if so.

Not yet. I want to talk about it with other mumsnetters if that’s OK with you?

No need to be arsey, I was trying to be helpful 🤷‍♂️

Sorry I mixed you up with a pp who was being arsey! I have contacted them but probably too late for a response today.

Hi OP,

Thanks for raising this. The pages/screenshots you’ve seen are part of our sponsored content with Zava. They’re clearly labelled and designed to give information about Zava’s online pharmacy and weight management support, rather than to advertise any prescription-only medicine.

We take our responsibilities around advertising and compliance seriously and work closely with partners to make sure everything meets the relevant regulations, including the ASA’s requirements.

We always welcome feedback and appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.

Have you considered the ethics of your decision to make money out of a brand deal with a pharmacy, when there are threads on MN which detail how to obtain prescriptions by deception, and how some posters are open about not using the medication you're discussing as it's intended? I wonder whether you'd let threads stand if posters are discussing how to cheat get prescriptions for ADHD, for example, if they don't have ADHD.
I have no issue with weight loss drugs btw, but I think it's important that the people who need them use them correctly, because the way it's going now, there will have to be a clampdown on prescribing.

So MNHQ has signed brand deals with both Medexpress AND Zava to promote medical weight loss?

The WLI boards have been really important to me as I've lost weight on Mounjaro but I'm pretty shocked by this.

No, that isn’t it. I can’t find the Wegovy one, but this one is just as bad. https://www.mumsnet.com/articles/what-is-mounjaro

You say “Want to try Mounjaro?” right at the start of the “article”. You include Mumsnetter testimonies about Mounjaro. It’s an advert for a POM and you should not be doing it.

"What is Mounjaro? Uses, how it works and side effects
Want to try Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for type 2 diabetes or obesity treatment? Here’s the lowdown on how it works, who it’s usually prescribed for and what you might expect if you’re taking it."

which does match with mnhq :

"They’re clearly labelled and designed to give information about Zava’s online pharmacy and weight management support, rather than to advertise any prescription-only medicine."

so it is for educational purposes

“Want to try” is clearly an invitation to purchase a specific POM. And the user testimonies? What is the justification for those?

It's completely clear that MNHQ are operating on the principle of respect for the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law.

A bit disappointing from a firm that has always promoted itself as an ethical advertiser, even a campaigning one.

They are well aware. They posted before to announce that they have partnered with MedExpress and promote the use of a Mumsnet discount code

Spot on. I guarantee that these agreements will have been lawyered to the hilt to ensure that they follow the letter of the law. It's incredibly disappointing that a trusted brand like MN is willing to break the spirit of the law for a sponsorship deal.

We are very fortunate to live in a country where the advertising of prescription-only medicines is explicitly banned. I'm very disappointed in MN for undermining this.

They are absolutely adverts dressed up as “informative articles “.

but then they need the sponsorship £ to keep the site running ?