Comments on: Bayer & Glaxo Linked To Bribes In Italy http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/bayer-glaxo-linked-to-bribes-in-italy/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:49:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: pg http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/bayer-glaxo-linked-to-bribes-in-italy/#comment-357253 pg Fri, 23 May 2008 15:31:54 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13773#comment-357253 I wonder where the majority of the media went? http://mondediplo.com/2003/11/14pharma I wonder where the majority of the media went?

http://mondediplo.com/2003/11/14pharma

]]> By: Justice in Michigan http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/bayer-glaxo-linked-to-bribes-in-italy/#comment-357250 Justice in Michigan Fri, 23 May 2008 15:17:02 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13773#comment-357250 Dangerous duo, those. I find this the scary part: “Glaxo is a leader in the world pharmaceutical market. We do not need to do anything here that we do not do in other European countries,” Dr Recchia said. Dangerous duo, those. I find this the scary part:

“Glaxo is a leader in the world pharmaceutical market. We do not need to do anything here that we do not do in other European countries,” Dr Recchia said.

]]> By: BOB FIDDAMAN http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/bayer-glaxo-linked-to-bribes-in-italy/#comment-357247 BOB FIDDAMAN Fri, 23 May 2008 14:56:17 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13773#comment-357247 ...Massimo Escani, a spokesman for Glaxo in Italy, denied that any associates of the company were involved in the scandal. “The claims are completely untrue. We deny any involvement whatsoever. These reports are groundless,” he told the Italian newspaper, according to PharmaTimes. Now there's a surprise! Fid …Massimo Escani, a spokesman for Glaxo in Italy, denied that any associates of the company were involved in the scandal. “The claims are completely untrue. We deny any involvement whatsoever. These reports are groundless,” he told the Italian newspaper, according to PharmaTimes.

Now there’s a surprise!

Fid

]]> By: truthman30 http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/bayer-glaxo-linked-to-bribes-in-italy/#comment-357240 truthman30 Fri, 23 May 2008 12:59:51 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13773#comment-357240 GSK.. Corrupt to the core... This is the second report of GSK mass bribing in Italy in so many years.. The first hit the headlines in 2003 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/feb/13/research.businessofresearch News World news British drugs giant in Italian bribery investigation Sophie Arie in Rome The Guardian, Thursday February 13 2003 Article history Italian prosecutors are investigating the giving of perks to Italian doctors by the British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline allegedly in return for prescribing more of their drugs. Investigating police claim they have evidence of a nationwide "bribery system" in which doctors allegedly prescribed 7-8% more Glaxo products each year in return for "freebies" such as Caribbean trips, stereo systems and wine. In some cases, doctors received cash "gifts" ranging from £300 to £1,000, said the investigating prosecutor, Guido Papalia, in the northern town of Verona, where Glaxo has its Italian headquarters. Glaxo played down the allegations. "We have a code of conduct and we try to follow it as scrupulously as possible," said Giuseppe Recchia, the spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline in Italy. "Glaxo is a leader in the world pharmaceutical market. We do not need to do anything here that we do not do in other European countries," Dr Recchia said. Dr Recchia said the company was awaiting further details of the allegations from the Italian authorities, after financial police searched 48 offices of its sales people throughout the country on February 7. The police investigation is centred on communications between 30 doctors and 40 Glaxo salespeople between January 2001 and December 2002. Police say that emails, documents and tapped phone calls they have collected suggest more than 3,000 medical professionals may have been involved. The investigators claim that €100m (£66m) declared by Glaxo in June 2001 as "investment to promote pharmaceuticals" was spent on free gifts - including luxury travel - for Italian doctors and other medical professionals. But Dr Recchia argued that "travel" was not a crime, and health professionals had to attend international conferences to have the latest information on pharmaceutical developments. Glaxo faced similar allegations in Germany last March, over allegedly offering perks such as free World Cup and formula one trips to thousands of German doctors between 1997 and 1999. The company, the biggest drugs firm in Europe, said at the time it would investigate the allegations internally and Europe-wide. The company said at the time that many positions had been redefined and "responsibilities have changed" because of restructuring after Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham in 2000. Glaxo Wellcome was also investigated in 1995, during an Italian crackdown on corporate corruption, for allegedly bribing health ministry officials. The head of the health ministry's pharmaceuticals department at the time, Duilio Poggiolini, cited Glaxo among several leading pharmaceutical companies which he claimed had paid bribes to secure a place in, and set their prices on, the Italian market. GSK..
Corrupt to the core…

This is the second report of GSK mass bribing in Italy in so many years..

The first hit the headlines in 2003

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/feb/13/research.businessofresearch

News
World news
British drugs giant in Italian bribery investigation

Sophie Arie in Rome

The Guardian, Thursday February 13 2003 Article history

Italian prosecutors are investigating the giving of perks to Italian doctors by the British pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline allegedly in return for prescribing more of their drugs.
Investigating police claim they have evidence of a nationwide “bribery system” in which doctors allegedly prescribed 7-8% more Glaxo products each year in return for “freebies” such as Caribbean trips, stereo systems and wine.

In some cases, doctors received cash “gifts” ranging from £300 to £1,000, said the investigating prosecutor, Guido Papalia, in the northern town of Verona, where Glaxo has its Italian headquarters.

Glaxo played down the allegations. “We have a code of conduct and we try to follow it as scrupulously as possible,” said Giuseppe Recchia, the spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline in Italy.

“Glaxo is a leader in the world pharmaceutical market. We do not need to do anything here that we do not do in other European countries,” Dr Recchia said.

Dr Recchia said the company was awaiting further details of the allegations from the Italian authorities, after financial police searched 48 offices of its sales people throughout the country on February 7.

The police investigation is centred on communications between 30 doctors and 40 Glaxo salespeople between January 2001 and December 2002. Police say that emails, documents and tapped phone calls they have collected suggest more than 3,000 medical professionals may have been involved.

The investigators claim that €100m (£66m) declared by Glaxo in June 2001 as “investment to promote pharmaceuticals” was spent on free gifts - including luxury travel - for Italian doctors and other medical professionals.

But Dr Recchia argued that “travel” was not a crime, and health professionals had to attend international conferences to have the latest information on pharmaceutical developments.

Glaxo faced similar allegations in Germany last March, over allegedly offering perks such as free World Cup and formula one trips to thousands of German doctors between 1997 and 1999. The company, the biggest drugs firm in Europe, said at the time it would investigate the allegations internally and Europe-wide.

The company said at the time that many positions had been redefined and “responsibilities have changed” because of restructuring after Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham in 2000.

Glaxo Wellcome was also investigated in 1995, during an Italian crackdown on corporate corruption, for allegedly bribing health ministry officials.

The head of the health ministry’s pharmaceuticals department at the time, Duilio Poggiolini, cited Glaxo among several leading pharmaceutical companies which he claimed had paid bribes to secure a place in, and set their prices on, the Italian market.

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