Nurofen manufacturer experiences headache over misleading conduct

Nurofen has been a well-loved and trusted pain relief brand...until now. The manufacturer of the brand, Reckitt Benckiser, faces millions in fines following the outcome of proceedings in the Federal Court over products in its Nurofen specific-pain range.

The range promises to target specific sites of pain and is branded accordingly. However, in the Federal Court proceedings, Reckitt Benckiser conceded that its promotion of four Nurofen products was misleading.

In fact, the active ingredient – 342mg ibuprofen lysine - was the same in all of them, and is no more effective at treating the particular type of pain described on its packaging than a product advertised for general use.