GSK and Novartis fined $4.5 million over marketing of Voltaren

The makers of Voltaren have been ordered to pay $4.5 million for breaches of Australian Consumer Law.

Last year, global health giants Novartis Consumer Health and Glaxo Smith Kline Consumer Healthcare (GSK) admitted to the Federal Court they had made false or misleading representations in the marketing of the Voltaren Osteo Gel and Voltaren Emulgel pain relief products.

The offending Voltaren products

From January 2012 to March 2017 the pharmaceutical companies marketed Osteo Gel as being specifically formulated and more effective than Emugel in treating osteoarthritis-related pain and inflammation, even though both had the same active ingredients.