Advertisement

US investigating bribery involving GlaxoSmithKline in China

Allegations include bribery of doctors by company officials on the mainland

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
US investigating bribery involving GlaxoSmithKline in China

US authorities are investigating British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline for violations of US anti-bribery laws in China after Chinese government officials accused the company of bribing doctors, three sources familiar with the probe said last week.

Advertisement

The sources did not want to be identified because the matter is not public.

The investigation is part of a wider probe of drugmakers' sales practices in China, said one of the sources, adding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has expanded a probe into GSK's business practices in other countries to include the Chinese bribery allegations.

A company spokesman on Friday confirmed the new line of inquiry in response to questions from Reuters.

"Since the investigation in China began, we have proactively reached out to relevant regulators. This includes the DOJ, and we have been in an ongoing dialogue with them," said David Mawdsley, a spokesman for GSK in London.

Advertisement

Chinese police said in July they had detained four Chinese executives at GSK on allegations the executives funneled up to 3 billion yuan (HK$3.8 billion) ) to travel agencies to facilitate bribes to doctors to boost the sale of its medicines.

loading
Advertisement