Timeliness of receipt of manufacturers' new product information.

In February 1988, the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada (PMAC) published a Code of Marketing Practices which recommends that PMAC members provide essential product information to drug information centres a minimum of two weeks prior to the marketing of new prescription drugs. A one-year study was undertaken by our Drug Information (DI) Centre to assess the compliance of PMAC companies with this guideline. Product information was mailed to our DI Centre two weeks or more prior to marketing for only 3/28 (10.7%) new prescription drugs and for none of 27 (0%) new prescription drug dosage forms or strengths. No product information was received for 10/28 (35.7%) new prescription drugs and 21/27 (77.8%) new prescription drug dosage forms or strengths. In several situations, new drugs appeared in journal advertisements or were being detailed to physicians prior to receipt of new product information. Manufacturers are encouraged to review their procedures for disseminating new product information to ensure that DI centres are notified of new product introductions at least two weeks in advance of detailing or marketing.