Code of conduct, ethics & compliance
Our code of conduct defines our commitment to ethical practices and compliance and shapes what we stand for as a company.
Code of conduct
For more than a century, we’ve been guided by a belief in the importance of doing the right thing. As we grow and build on our strong legacy of innovation, we remain unwavering in our commitment to ethics and integrity. We speak many languages, represent many cultures and are united in our purpose to deliver breakthrough medicines and vaccines.
Our code of conduct empowers our employees to navigate complex situations consistent with our values and standards, ultimately guiding them to make ethical decisions.
Business partners
We strive to treat our business partners honestly and fairly, and we expect them to operate in a manner reflective of our values. Our business partner code of conduct helps protect our reputation and that of our partners.
Compliance
Our company has a long-standing commitment to acting ethically and being a good corporate citizen. We comply with laws and regulations that govern our operations and activities, including how we research, develop, communicate and sell our medicines, vaccines, and other products.
We have a well-established compliance program that’s consistent with recommendations and guidelines from government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the UK Serious Fraud Office, as well as applicable industry associations’ codes of conduct (e.g., the Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals created by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association Code of Practice).
Our compliance program is designed to prevent, detect and remediate potential violations of law or company policy. We continuously assess and, where appropriate, make enhancements to ensure that the program is tailored to evolving business operations, considering developments in our industry and in the external enforcement landscape.
Our board of directors and senior management, including the company’s chief ethics and compliance officer, help oversee the program with support from various functions, including the Ethics & Compliance Office, Corporate Audit & Assurance Services, Global Investigations, and International Legal & Compliance. Divisional, regional and local market committees help operationalize and implement our company’s standards, policies, controls and processes. We use required enterprise training to reinforce key parts of the program, and our audit program tests how markets and business functions operationalize compliance requirements and processes.
Employees are required and encouraged to “speak up” and report potential violations of law or company policy, and there are multiple avenues for them to do so, including a confidential reporting telephone line and online tool operated by an independent third party. We’re accountable for responding promptly to all reported concerns and thoroughly investigating to determine whether violations have occurred. As appropriate, we take disciplinary action and implement necessary remediation to consistently address instances of substantiated wrongdoing. Substantiated violations are examined to assess whether the “root cause” reflects potential gaps in our compliance program and the most effective way to address and remediate to help prevent future violations.
Ethics
Being an ethical company is about much more than simply adhering to the letter of the law. Our commitment to ethical practices is at the core of everything we do. Our Global Ethics Program serves as a compass, ensuring that all of our employees understand and adhere to our Code of Conduct. This program promotes a culture of accountability, respect and ethical decision-making.
Through training, regular communication, and ongoing monitoring, we empower our employees to recognize and navigate ethical challenges confidently. We cultivate an environment where speaking up about concerns is encouraged, active listening is embraced, and retaliation is not tolerated.
We strive to build trust with our patients, customers, and all stakeholders by consistently demonstrating our commitment to our values and standards.
Compliance program
View the fundamentals of our compliance program regarding sales and marketing activities and business practices for U.S. related activities.
Our statement on the revised PhRMA Code
We’re fully committed to supporting the PhRMA guiding principles on data sharing.
