The following principles apply to all market research conducted by, or on behalf of, a Company.
- Market research must be an initiative to collect relevant information to enhance the quality use of medicines and must not be used as a means to promote to and/or reward participants.
- Market research may be undertaken about an approved or unapproved product or unapproved indication. For market research conducted with members of the general public, the product name and/or molecule should not be disclosed. Market research undertaken with patients who have been prescribed a particular prescription medicine may include product-specific questions.
- Market research studies must be clearly identified as such when the initial approach is made to participants. It must be clear to a participant that the market research is being conducted by or on behalf of a pharmaceutical Company, but the name of the pharmaceutical Company need not be disclosed. It is recognised that the disclosure of the name of the Company may bias the research.
- Market research should not be implemented as competitions or quizzes or in any other manner that could lead to confusion as to the purpose of the market research.
- Any transfer of value to a market research participant should be reasonable for the related services and consistent with upholding the integrity and reputation of the industry. Where a Company is aware of the specific named individual healthcare professionals participating in market research, payments must be disclosed in transparency reports in accordance with this Code.