FRANCE TO LIMIT MEDICAL REPRESENTATIVE VISITS

French drugmakers' association LEEM and pricing regulator CEPS have agreed to limit visits to doctors from representatives of pharmaceutical companies. The "experimental" agreement is expected to restrict visits relating to new drugs in certain therapeutic classes through to 2008. Regulators will monitor results, and have warned that price cuts could follow if visit numbers fail to decline.

According to LEEM, drug firms' promotional spending in France nearly doubled in 2003, reaching 10.9% of the pharmaceutical sector's taxable revenues. 2004 is likely to have seen another strong rise, as sales and prices remain flat amid weak economic growth and government cost-cutting.

LEEM also recently agreed a new code of practice on the role of medical representatives in France, which became effective in January. The new agreement contains measures such as a ban on gifts for doctors from company representatives, and clarifies the balance between informing health professionals and promotional activities.