Privacy policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the research-based pharmaceutical company, a member of a group of research-based pharmaceutical companies (collectively, the “Company”) in respect of its processing of personal information in connection with its activities in Canada.

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to inform healthcare providers, patients, participants in clinical studies, customers and other individuals we deal with ("you" or "your") how we collect, use, disclose and protect your personal information.

Personal information is information about an identifiable individual, as more particularly defined and limited by applicable privacy laws. This Privacy Policy applies to our collection, use and disclosure of personal information in Canada. This Privacy Policy does not apply to personal information about our employees nor to information that is not personal information.

In carrying on its business, the Company collects various types of personal information including personal information about healthcare providers (including physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers), patients, participants in clinical studies, and customers. Personal information that we collect may include:

• names, titles, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and other contact information;
• information that the Company’s sales representatives may collect during visits with healthcare providers, such as: areas of practice or specializations; qualifications and professional credentials; publications; questions, comments or opinions about our products; and other information relevant to establishing and maintaining our relationships with healthcare providers;
  
• the names and contact information of patients who use the Company’s products and their healthcare providers and, in certain limited circumstances, personal health information and medical histories of patients (the Company may use third-party service providers in some circumstances to administer certain programs and the service provider will collect the personal information on the Company’s behalf but the Company will not have access to the personal information);
  
• the necessary information to make adverse drug reaction reports to Health Canada, which information is generally recorded using an initial for a patient rather than the patient’s name;
  
• names and contact information of healthcare providers involved in clinical trials and information relating to their professional qualifications and experience as required by regulation;
  
• information about patients participating in clinical trials and clinical trial data collected during clinical trials, which information is protected using an identifier for a patient other than the patient’s name (e.g., initials, numbers);
  
• other information, with your consent or as permitted or required by law.
  

The Company generally uses personal information for the following purposes:

• establishing, maintaining, and managing relationships with healthcare providers, customers and other individuals that we deal with in the course of our business;
• conducting and evaluating clinical studies and related research and development, and otherwise developing and improving our products;
  
• providing advice, assistance and recommendations to healthcare providers with respect to our products to meet healthcare provider needs;
  
• providing healthcare providers with clinical evaluation packages;
  
• establishing and sponsoring educational or other programs and administering health condition awareness/management or similar programs;
  
• responding to feedback, questions, comments, requests, inquiries, complaints, or reports of adverse event reports about the Company’s products or services;
  
• generating adverse drug reaction reports or other reports required by regulatory bodies;.
  
• notifying individuals about product-related matters, including product recalls;
  
• marketing the Company’s products and services;
  
• administering contests, promotions, surveys, quizzes or polls;
  
• maintaining business records for reasonable periods and generally managing and administering our business including defending and bringing legal actions;
  
• meeting legal, regulatory, insurance, security and processing requirements; and
  
• otherwise with consent or as permitted or required by law.
  

The Company discloses personal information in the following circumstances:

• to regulatory agencies as required by law or in order to meet the regulatory requirements of the Company’s legitimate business purposes; and
• otherwise with consent or as permitted or required by law.
  

Personal information may be used by the Company and disclosed to parties connected with a proposed or actual financing, securitization, insuring, sale, assignment or other disposal of all or part of the Company or its business or assets, for the purposes of evaluating and/or performing the proposed transaction. Assignees or successors of the Company or its business or assets may use and disclose your personal information for similar purposes as those described in this Privacy Policy.

The Company may transfer personal information to outside agents or service providers (including our affiliates acting in this capacity) for reasons such as data processing, data warehousing, administrative services, conducting programs, and otherwise collecting, using, disclosing, storing or processing personal information on the Company’s behalf for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. The Company uses reasonable contractual or other means to require third parties to commit to protecting personal information to a level comparable to that provided by the Company. Some of these service providers may be located outside of Canada and your personal information may be collected, used, disclosed, stored and processed in these jurisdictions for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. While your personal information is located outside Canada it will be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is retained, including laws that may require disclosure of personal information to foreign government authorities.

IP Addresses and Server Logs

The nature of the internet is such that it passively and automatically collects certain information about a user’s traffic patterns linked to their Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. These are unique Internet “addresses” assigned to all web users by their Internet Service Providers (ISP). IP addresses are automatically logged by web servers. While the IP address does not generally identify an individual on its face, it may, with the cooperation of the ISP, be used to locate and identify an individual using the internet.

Our servers automatically log information about visits to this website in the normal course of establishing and maintaining web connections. Server logs record statistical information, such as visitors’ IP addresses, type of operating systems, time and duration of visit, web pages requested, and identify categories of visitors by items such as domains and browser types. These statistics are reported in aggregate form to the Company and are used to improve this website and ensure that it provides the optimal web experience for visitors.

The Company does not link server log information to any other data in a way that would enable it to identify individual visitors. However, server logs may be reviewed for security purposes, for example, to detect intrusions into our network.

As with many other websites, our site makes use of session and permanent “cookie” technology. Cookies are small text files that contain a unique identification number that is automatically deposited on a visitor’s computer. This information helps us determine, in the aggregate, the total number of visitors to the site on an ongoing basis and the types of internet browsers and operating systems used by our visitors. This information is used to facilitate and enhance your online visits. We do not cross-reference the information automatically collected through “cookies” with any type of personal information that is voluntarily offered on or through this website.

The use of cookie technology is common on the Internet, and many internet browsers are initially configured to accept cookies automatically. If you would prefer not to accept cookies, you can set your internet browser to notify you when your computer is receiving a cookie or to refuse cookies automatically. However, if you refuse to accept cookies, this may limit your use of the website.

Other websites to which this website may provide links to are governed by different privacy policies. The Company does not assume responsibility for the content or information practices of these other websites, and we strongly encourage all web visitors to review the privacy statements and policies of all externally-linked sites.

Consent to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information may be given in various ways. Consent can be express (for example, orally, electronically or on a form you may sign describing the intended uses and disclosures of personal information) or implied (for example, when you provide personal information necessary for a service you have requested). You may provide your consent in some circumstances where notice has been provided to you about our intentions with respect to your personal information and you have not withdrawn your consent for an identified purpose, such as by using an “opt-out” option provided, if any. The form of the consent sought the Company, including whether this consent is express or implied, may vary depending upon the circumstances and the type of personal information. In determining the form of consent to use, the Company will take into account the sensitivity of the personal information and the reasonable expectations of the individual. Generally, by providing your personal information, it is assumed that you consent to the collection, use and disclosure of such personal information for the purposes identified or described in this Privacy Policy, if applicable, or otherwise at the time of collection.

If an individual is not capable of consenting to the collection, use or disclosure of his or her own personal information, consent must be obtained from the person who is legally entitled to consent on behalf of the individual.

You may withdraw your consent to our collection, use and disclosure of personal information at any time, subject to contractual and legal restrictions and reasonable notice. Note that if you withdraw your consent to certain uses of your personal information, you may no longer be able to obtain information of the Company’s products or services. In certain circumstances, you may not be permitted to withdraw consent to certain necessary uses and disclosures of the personal information for which your consent was originally collected.

The Company collects, uses and discloses your personal information with your consent, except as permitted or required by law. We may be required or permitted under statute or regulation to collect, use or disclose personal information without your consent, for example to comply with a court order, to comply with local or federal regulations or a legally permitted inquiry by a government agency, or to collect a debt owed to us.

The Company implements reasonable security safeguards to protect personal information against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification, regardless of the format in which the personal information is held.

The methods of protection include:

• physical measures (e.g., locked filing cabinets and restricted access to desks);
• organizational measures (e.g., security clearances and limiting access on a “need to know” basis); and
  
• technological measures (e.g., the use of passwords and encryption).
  
• Authorized Company employees, agents and mandataries may have access to your personal information as required to fulfill their responsibilities to the Company.

The Company maintains a file of personal information for individuals for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

This Privacy Policy may be revised from time to time. We urge you to request and review this Privacy Policy frequently to obtain the current version. Your continued provision of personal information or use of our services following any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of any such changes. This Privacy Policy is effective as of April 4, 2012.