The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (FAS) found that TV commercials for Bayer’s Theraflex Chondrocream Forte and GlaxoSmithKline’s Teraflu violate the Advertising Law.
In the advertising video of the drug “Theraflex Chondrocream Forte”, the positive effect and effectiveness of the drug in eliminating pain in joints and restoring cartilaginous tissues were guaranteed.
The advertisement for “Teraflu” contained the thesis that the drug is number 1 in the recommendations of specialists.
According to the law, the comparison given in the advertisement must be complete, based on comparable criteria, and allow an objective assessment of the properties of the product. The comparison of Teraflu with other drugs used in the advertisement, based on the recommendations of experts, is subjective and does not allow an objective assessment of the properties of the drug. Under these circumstances, the comparison of Teraflu with other medicines used for coughs and colds, given in the advertisement, is incorrect.
In addition, the visuals of the advertisement demonstrate the effect of complete recovery as a result of the use of Theraflu drug in a person with symptoms of the disease.
The FAS noted that the manufacturers violated the requirements of the Advertising Law by guaranteeing the positive effect of the advertised object, its safety, effectiveness, and the absence of side effects.
Both companies face a fine of 200 to 500 thousand rubles ($2.7-6.8 thousand).