Weight loss clinic Dr Frank’s last week (May 19) revealed it has become aware that “some affiliate codes have been shared online” in ways that are “strictly against regulations”.
The admission came in an email to members of Dr Frank’s affiliate scheme – which allows individuals to earn a 10% commission on “total referral sales whenever a customer makes a purchase using [their] coupon code” if they spend at least £100, according to a presentation seen by C+D.
“On average, you can expect to earn £55 per customer over a three-month period,” the slides added.
Read more: Weight loss: Online pharmacy influencer discount codes shot down
“You can share your code on social media, forums or websites – however you must not mention prescription-only medicines (POMs) as this violates UK advertising regulations,” the presentation for affiliates said.
But now in an email to affiliate code holders, Dr Frank’s has admitted that not all members have followed the rules.
“Commission withheld”
“It has come to our attention that some affiliate codes have been shared online in ways that include pricing information and medication names – please note that this is strictly against regulations,” the email read.
“Do not publicly post your code alongside any medication names or prices” and “do not advertise clinical treatments in a way that could misrepresent or breach advertising regulations”, it warned.
But the message said that affiliates can “share [their] code via approved channels” including email and private messages.
Read more: Revealed: Online pharmacies use ‘TikTok stars’ to shift discount weight loss jabs
“Focus on sharing your personal experience and creative content around healthy lifestyle and self-improvement journeys,” it added.
“You can provide support by directing your audience to our site for further information only and offer your audience direct message (DM) advice” – “reach out if you’re unsure whether something is appropriate to post”, it said.
“If an account is found to be sharing content that breaches these rules, commission may be withheld and the account may be removed from the program,” the email warned.
Read more: ‘New front line’: MHRA removes 150 social media posts selling fake weight loss drugs
“We now ask you to review all your content and remove/edit all content that would be deemed unacceptable code sharing,” it said.
Dr Frank’s added that it would soon issue a new “formal affiliate agreement” that members must agree to and “a new affiliate guide with clearer dos and don’ts”.
Discount code chaos
The news comes as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) chided online pharmacy Habitual Healthcare Ltd for using “content creators” to promote weight loss drugs in February.
In August, a C+D investigation revealed that TikTok influencers were offering “25% off” discount codes for followers to “order Mounjaro” from Habitual.
Read more: Blair report urges online pharmacy weight loss jab expansion
The online pharmacy came under regulatory fire following “a complaint”, after which it deactivated “unique discount codes given to content creators”, the MHRA said at the time.
“The MHRA would encourage all treatment service providers to review their commercial relationships with third parties as required to ensure all parties comply with the advertising regulations,” it added.
Meanwhile, the Tony Blair Institute last week called for “faster, broader access” to weight loss medicines via a “means-tested” rollout through private providers already offering the drugs.
Read more: Inside the online pharmacy growing weight loss scripts by the thousands
The report recommended this take place “predominantly through digital channels”, in particular online pharmacies, saying that rollout at scale through general practice is “probably both infeasible and unreasonable”.
And reports this month claimed that a multimillion-pound deal “with a major pharmaceutical firm” is set to fund a national NHS weight loss jab prescription pilot in pharmacies.
C+D this month revealed that one online pharmacy’s funds boomed almost 600% in just six months thanks to the thousands of weight loss scripts it processes every month.
