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Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

Case studies

Suitability for GSK’s approved speaker list
As well as ensuring that our employees comply with our policies, it is vital that people working on our behalf meet the highest ethical standards.

In 2008, the US Pharmaceuticals Compliance Department received information through the GSK Integrity Helpline that a healthcare professional (HCP), who was engaged to speak on GSK’s behalf, had allegedly failed to comply with company policies during promotional programmes on two consecutive days. GSK reviewed materials from one of the programmes in question and identified a number of issues and policy violations. The person was suspended as a GSK speaker pending the completion of a follow-up investigation. After further investigation, we removed the HCP from our approved speaker list.

Responsible marketing for our weight loss treatment
Nearly two-thirds of US adults are either clinically obese or seriously overweight. This is causing a dramatic increase in life-threatening medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and adding strain to the healthcare system. But even a small amount of weight loss can greatly reduce the risk of developing associated medical problems.

GSK’s over-the-counter weight loss product, alli (orlistat 60 mg), helps overweight adults lose weight by preventing about 25 per cent of dietary fat from being absorbed in the gut.¹ It helps people lose 50 per cent more weight than diet and exercise alone.² alli was launched in the US in June 2007 and since then we have sold over six million starter packs. In 2008, alli received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use and in January 2009, the European Commission granted a non-prescription licence for the product.

It is vital that alli is marketed responsibly so that it is used in the right way and only by those who need it. We educate physicians, dieticians and pharmacists to ensure alli is sold appropriately and patients receive the right information about the treatment. Our marketing emphasises that using alli requires lifestyle changes, including exercise and a low-fat diet, to produce the right results without unwanted side effects. The safety and efficacy profile of orlistat is well documented and has been established through data from more than 100 clinical studies.³

We set up the website www.myalli.com to provide further support for alli users. It enables people to set targets, track their weight loss and post success stories. It includes an ‘am I ready for alli?’ quiz, which asks potential users to confirm their commitment to moderating their diet, taking exercise and reading the label carefully. The site also includes ‘alli circles’, an online moderated forum where users can share experiences and help each other stay focused on their weight loss targets. The forum gives us valuable feedback from patients on the effectiveness of the product, and we monitor the site for reports of adverse effects which are then reported to the FDA, and for inappropriate content.

In 2008, we donated $75,000 to Dress for Success (DFS) to mark the one-year anniversary of the US launch of alli. DFS is an international non-profit organisation that provides business clothing and career support for disadvantaged women. We encourage alli users to volunteer for DFS and to donate clothing that becomes too big for them as they lose weight. DFS has so far received over 38,000 pieces of clothing from alli users.

1. Anderson J. Orlistat for the management of overweight individuals and obesity: a review of potential for the 60-mg, over-the-counter dosage. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007;8 (11):1733-1742.

2. alli Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)

3. Jacob S, Togerson J. Orlistat treatment beneficial in both primary care and tertiary settings. obesity reviews. 2005;6(s1):166.

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