Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3518
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Organon and anabolic steroids
WEMOS pharma group 1987 Aug;
Abstract:
In 1983, WEMOS complained about the marketing practices of the Dutch company Organon, in particular the unethical advertising of the firm’s anabolic steroids in Third World countries. Later that year, Organon admitted that it had made some mistakes. A company spokesperson stated that corrective action has been taken already. This document uses the results of questionnaires sent to people in 30 countries plus package inserts, prescribing guides and promotional material such as advertisements and leaflets to show that Organon was still saying that anabolics are “especially meant for childrenâ€; package inserts were still not standardized so that a wide variation in indications, contraindications and side effects exists; and most importantly, the company has failed to review the up-to-date literature on anabolics and continues to promote its products for indications in which anabolics have not been proven to be effective.
Keywords:
*analysis/developing countries/Organon/anabolic steroids/WEMOS/health and healthcare/quality of information/journal advertisements/ package inserts/ labeling/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: LABELLING AND PACKAGE INSERTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION
