Pharmaceutical giant in hot water for alleged improper marketing of Botox

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has come under fire in China for allegedly marketing Botox through improper practices, as well as being investigated for possible tax and invoice fraud.

The Wall Street Journal earlier this week reported that investigations are being carried out on the corporate behemoth for possible bribery and corruption, in a planned marketing strategy to boost sales in the emerging market. They claim to have seen evidence of emails targeted at 48 doctors which include cash and other incentives as a reward for prescribing Botox for therapeutic reasons.

The marketing strategy even took the name of a Russian World War II sniper, ‘Vasily’, after Vasily Zaytsev, with communication regarding the incentives supposedly sent to and from the private email addresses of GSK’s sales personnel.

GlaxoSmithKline have responded by announcing their own internal investigation and say initial findings show there has been no improper sales and marketing conduct carried out by sales staff at their organisation. A spokesperson for GSK in London announced:

“…we are investigating these new claims. However, our inquiries to date have found no evidence of bribery or corruption in relation to our sales and marketing of therapeutic Botox in China”

“GSK has some of the toughest compliance procedures in the sector. We are proud of our high standards and operate in accordance with them.”

GSK’s distribution of Botox in China is for therapeutic use (such as facial spasms) rather than cosmetic use ie. for the treatment of wrinkles.

Cosmetic Courses offer a wide range of aesthetic training courses to medical professionals. For information on any of our courses, contact the team on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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The Apprentice result – good for Botox’s reputation or bad?

Lord Alan Sugar selected his business partner-cum-reality TV winner last week and will be backing a chain of Botox and skin clinics to appear on British high streets.

The businesswoman/winner is 24-year-old doctor, Leah Totton, who impressed the business impresario with her ideas and her business acumen, despite having no previous experience within industry, having only worked in medicine prior to appearing on the BBC show.

Totton said that she hopes to increase the quality of non-invasive procedures such as Botox and fillers that are available on the market, and says she is well-placed to do so, given her medical credentials. However the industry itself has been quick respond to her claims, instead suggesting that her lack of sector-specific training will actually do more damage to the reputation of the industry than good.

Spokesperson for BAAPS and consultant plastic surgeon James McDiarmid said:

“Having Leah Totton running Botox clinics is like saying that someone, aged 17, who has just passed their driving test can be a Formula One driver.”

He also lambasted the BBC for the apparent “trivialisation” of cosmetic surgery.

The plans for the clinics are to offer non-invasive procedures such as Botox, chemical peels and fillers.

Cosmetic Courses offer a wide range of aesthetic training courses to medical professionals looking to enter the cosmetic industry.

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American woman arrested for administering Botox illegally

Woman arrested practicing botox illegallyAn American beautician based in Florida has been arrested for administering Botox illegally, and for claiming to be a qualified nurse. In the US it’s a legal requirement for those offering non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox and fillers to be medically qualified and to hold specific registration to practice.

The beautician, Sheri Goldman, had listed her profession at her beauty salon as nurse, when in fact she has no medical qualifications whatsoever. She advertised her salon and its services on Groupon, which her listed credentials including ‘surgical nurse’. She was arrested for unlicensed practice of a healthcare profession, which is a third degree crime in the US, punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

There are also other charges against her, for the same crime but in another area of Florida.

With laws soon to be introduced in the UK to regulate who can offer Botox we may well see similar cases of unqualified practitioners knowingly (or unknowingly) flouting the law, with similar repercussions.

Cosmetic Courses are an established provider of medical aesthetic training. For information on any of our courses, please contact the team on on 01844 390110 or email [email protected].

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