RNZ GSK FINED IN AUSTRALIA OVER VOLTAREN ARTHRITIS GEL MARKETING

The makers of Voltaren pain gels have been fined AU$4.5 million (FJ$6.64m) by Australia’s consumer watchdog for passing a product off as being more effective at relieving arthritis symptoms.

The Australian

Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Novartis to court in late 2017, accusing them of misleading consumers in advertising over five years. The companies marketed Osteo Gel as being more effective than Emulgel in treating pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis.

GSK and Novartis admitted they had breached Australian consumer law with their marketing of Osteo Gel between 2012 and 2017. The parties also agreed on the question of penalties and Federal Court Justice Robert Bromwich today ordered

GSK pay a fine of NZ$1.5m (FJ$2.06m) and Novartis pay NZ$3m (FJ$4.12m).

The ACCC previously mounted a similar case against the makers of Nurofen involving pain products, which resulted in a $6 million penalty.