Pharmacy company fined over Viagra Internet ads

A pharmacy company in Shanghai has been fined 700,000 yuan (US$99,413) for illegal advertising in an online live broadcast, the Shanghai market watchdog said on Sunday.

China Nepstar hosted a live Internet broadcast recently to promote the effects of sexual dysfunction drug Viagra, a prescription drug, the Shanghai Administration for Market Regulation said.

The broadcast themed on "night passion" contained content designed to tempt men, according to the administration.

A discounted sales promotion  of the drug was held during the broadcast, which had about 150,000 viewers in total.

The act violated China's advertisement law, which bans the publishing of prescription drug advertisements in the Internet and live broadcasts that are against good social custom as well, according to the administration.

Prescription drugs are only allowed to be advertised in medical science and pharmacy publications designated by health and drug authorities.

The company was also ordered to stop illegal advertising.