Second drug firm found guilty of “switching” patients to new drugs

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) wishes to point out that, contrary to what was reported in the opening section of this news article by Zosia Kmietowicz (16 October, p 875), the Airways Integrated Management Service (AIMS) was not found in breach of the Code of Practice of the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (set up by the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry). GSK has not been told to withdraw the service. However, as was stated later in the article in a statement from GSK, “GSK accepts that the materials used to introduce [AIMS] to practices were, although unintentionally, in breach of the Code of Practice and has agreed to withdraw these materials.” The company affirms that it has now withdrawn the materials and that it remains fully committed to the spirit and the letter of the Code of Practice.