april fool's! A pharmaceutical company that acts of its own accord to request the withdrawal of the marketing authorisation for a dangerous drug, offers voluntarily to pay damages to patients, and even provides Prescrire's editors with full clinical data, well that would certainly be a dream come true. As of 1 April 2018, it is definitely more dream than reality. 

And yes, our "News Flash" announcing a French company's demand that the marketing authorisation for "tripoliponumab" be withdrawn was, in fact, an April fool's prank.

36 years of "fishy business" in April
The traditional April prank by Prescrire's editors serves as an annual "booster shot" to remind us all that in the serious business of medical information, it pays to exercise critical judgement at all times.

In April 1983 Prescrire's "special correspondent" revealed to enthralled readers the enormous interest of protryptophane in the treatment of acute senility... And ever since, the experiment has been repeated yearly in La revue Prescrire's April issue.

And on a few occasions, Prescrire's "April fish" (as the seasonal pranks are known in France) have even made it into the English edition, Prescrire International. One of these is included below, in this sampling of Prescrire's yearly "Poissons d'avril".

Greatest hits from Prescrire's annual "Poisson d'avril" prank

• Tripoliponumab: from dream to reality (1 April 2018)
  "The marketing of tripoliponumab (DreamTrueTrue°) a so-called specific liposomal endorphin re-uptake inhibitor, was authorised in the European Union in 2007 for the treatment of chronic prolonged daydream deficit disorder... The firm Neuronodev Pharma... has demanded that EMA withdraw the marketing authorisation (MA) for this drug, citing commercial reasons. The company's board has voted a budget of 150 million euros in damages, to be adjusted in function of patients' perceived needs ..."
  "Tripoliponumab : du rêve à la réalité" Rev Prescrire 2018; 38 (414): 270. (Pdf, in French, subscription to the French edition required)
   
• "Speed Care": an innovative continuing education programme allowing doctors and pharmacists to save precious time  (1 April 2016)
  "Just one example of the promising innovations on offer is a weekly schedule organised according to patients’ conditions, to achieve an "optimisation of available physician brain-time"..." 
  "Speed care : un programme de formation innovant pour gagner du temps au cabinet ou en officine" Rev Prescrire 2016; 36 (390): 306. (Pdf, subscription to the French edition required) 
  
  
• A new drug treatment makes headlines in France: olanzapine + topiramate (Obéfix°), maintains ideal weight without risk (1 April 2012)
  "La Revue Prescrire has revealed unbelievable new results that will be welcome reading for medical professionals and patients alike. ..." 
  "Olanzapine + topiramate (Obéfix°)" Rev Prescrire 2012; 33 (342): 248-251. (Pdf in French, free) 

•  IN ENGLISH  Tour de France: ads in the saddle! (1 April 2003)
  "In case Credit Lyonnais pulls out of Tour de France sponsorship, negotiations with the French pharmaceutical federation are nearing completion... Companies manufacturing growth hormones and erythropoietin, have opted for the spotted jersey for the best climber..."
  "Tour de France: ads in the saddle!" Prescrire Int 2003; 11 (66): 307. (Pdf, free)

• The 2001 "Golden Microphone" awards
  for the pharmaceutical industry (1 April 2001)
  "The drug industry shows that it knows how to show its gratitude to deserving "opinion leaders"..." 
  "Les micros d'Or 2001 de l'industrie pharmaceutique"  Rev Prescrire 2001; 21 (216): 307. (pdf in French, free)
   
• Diffunase° (1 April 2000)
  "Prevention of stress, of sexual dysfunction, of insomnia, primal urges, bulimia, etc. All by a very novel means of administration: air travel."
  "Gamme Diffunase°, n'importe quoi !"  Rev Prescrire 2000; 20 (205): 266-268. (Pdf in French, free)
   
• A computerised medical information system in France? (1 April 1997)
  "A confidential report by the Ministries of Health and Finance contains a proposal for a mandatory computerised medical identification system, in the form of an unremovable computerised bracelet to be worn by all beneficiaries of the national health insurance system..."  
  "Un carnet de santé informatisé en France ?" Rev Prescrire 1997; 17 (172): 284 - 285 et 308. (pdf in French, free)
  
  
• Panaceum° tablets (1 April 1984)
  "All the results are unanimous, just a single 5 mg dose is enough to cure the great majority of illnesses. The huge advantage for us prescribers is that there is no need for a precise diagnosis. As soon as we suspect some disorder, major or minor, no matter what it involves, the prescription is the same..."
  "Panaceum° comprimés" Rev Prescrire 1984; 4 (34) : 2. (Pdf in French, free)
  "Panaceum° d'avril" Rev Prescrire 1984; 4 (35): II. (Pdf in French, free)
   
• Kwajalumpur. 3rd Symposium of the International Federation of Experimental Gerontopathology: protryptophane can cure senility (1 April 1983)
  "The press must be ever alert in order to satisfy readers' thirst for news..."
  "Kwajalumpur. Troisième symposium de la Féderation Internationale de Gérontopathologie Expérimentale : le protryptophane peut guérir la sénilité" Rev Prescrire 1983; 3 (24): 13 - 14. (Pdf in French, free)
  

©Prescrire 1 April 2018