Prepared by:

Adriana Cusniriuc, Alice Hoey, Crystalle

Liceralde, Francine Kwan, Monisha Andruse

GlaxoSmithKline

Business and

Professional Ethics

Background Research

GSK is one of the top pharmaceutical

manufacturers in the world.

Their offices are situated in 115 countries

including USA, Spain and China.

Spent around £4 billion in research and

development of medicines.

Few of their products include Ribena,

Lucozade, Sensodyne and Panadol.

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GSK Controversies

Ribena

Seroxat Avandia

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Ribena Ad.

4

Ribena Two

teenagers

discovered

the absence

of Vitamin C.

The school

girls contacted

GSK twice

without valid

response.

Fair Go

suggested to

take matters

into

commerce

commission.

Pleaded

guilty for 15

charges and

were fined

$217,500.

Issues Raised

Mislead consumers in the context of Vitamin C

Shows lack of business ethics

Utilised incorrect information for their own

competitive advantage and to increase profit.

Acted against GSK’s Code of Ethics.

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Avandia & Seroxat

DRUG Anti-diabetic Anti-depressant

CAUSES High risks of heart

attack

Self-harmed and/or

committed suicide

ACTIONS

TOOK

Asked doctors to hide

information on risks

concerning Avandia.

GSK hid the negative

impacts of Seroxat on

its packaging.

RESOLVED Fined $3 billion and allowed the govt. to

monitor their actions for the next 5 years.

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Issues Raised

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GSK broke three out of six rules in medical

ethics.

Doctors prescribed off-label drugs to patients.

The producers were aware about the extent of

harmfulness prior to disguising information.

Transactions were carried out without a valid

children’s license.

Conclusion

GSK’s actions highly contradicts with their slogan.

They lacked compassion towards families who were

affected by their products.

There should be a top governing body for preventing

mistakes happening within workforce.

Govt. should place a secondary body to asses

prescribed medicine before giving.

Concealment of dangerous information expresses an

egoistic and self-interest view of GSK.

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