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Pharmaceutical Giant Bayer Fined for Russian Adverts 'Scaring Pregnant Women'

Hannibal Hanschke / Reuters

German pharmaceutical giant Bayer has been fined after being found guilty of “scaring pregnant women” into buying their products, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.

Adverts run by the company to promote their “Elevit Prenatal” vitamins suggested that unborn children were at greater risk of developing congenital deformities if their mothers did not take the supplements, Russia's Anti-Monopoly Committee ruled.

The adverts, which were aired on Russian television channel TNT, broke Russian law by suggesting that consumers needed to buy certain drugs to maintain good health, the court said in a statement.

The court will meet again at a later date to decide on the size of the company's fine, Interfax reported.

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