GSK Facing More Bribery Allegations

GlaxoSmithKline, which last year paid Chinese authorities $483 million to settle corruption charges, is facing similar allegations in Romania.

GSK received a letter recently from a whistleblower who claims the company made improper payments to Romanian doctors for prescribing its drugs, spokeswoman Anna Carruth says. The company has responded and will investigate the matter, she adds.

Bribery allegations have hounded GSK in recent years. In addition to China, the drugmaker is probing charges in Poland, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.

Arnall Golden Gregory partner Mike Burke says the conviction in China and allegations elsewhere suggest a systemic issue, potentially caused by a failure of training or oversight. To avoid future charges, the drugmaker needs to conduct an in-depth country-by-country review of its marketing practices, he said. — Jonathon Shacat