The case involved unsubstantiated claims about CircoMax® Myco.
The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) has ruled that Zoetis UK Limited has breached its Code of Practice for the Promotion of Animal Medicines.
NOAH’s Code of Practice on the Promotion of Animal Medicines Committee met in June 2021 to discuss a case brought about by Hipra UK and Ireland Ltd. The case involved promotional claims made between March and May 2021 for Zoetis’ product, CircoMax® Myco.
Hipra UK and Ireland Ltd complained that Zoetis had made unsubstantiated claims that CircoMax® Myco provides the broadest protection and broader coverage against porcine circovirus (PCV2).
Among these claims included the phrases: “Stay one step ahead with the broadest, longest-lasting combined PCV2 and M.hyo* protection” and “Protect your pigs with Europe’s first and only dual PCV2 genotype vaccine. Broader coverage – against multiple PCV2 genotype and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae”.
A NOAH press release reads: ‘Following comprehensive presentations from both parties and detailed analysis of the scientific and technical background, the Committee found that in their promotional statements, Zoetis promoted its CircoMax® Myco vaccine as providing better and broader protection against the PCV2 virus than other vaccines on the market and that the evidence presented was not sufficient to substantiate such claims.'
Further details about the case are available on the NOAH website.
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
