ABPI suspends Abbott Laboratories

Abbott Laboratories has been suspended from membership of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) for a minimum of six months following what the ABPI has called 'serious breaches of the ABPI Code of Practice'.

The suspension follows an anonymous complaint concerning 'inappropriate hospitality for health professionals' at a number of meetings held by Abbott - whose UK head office is in Maidenhead, Berkshire - and an audit of Abbott's procedures in November 2005. This is understood to be one of 'a number of activities' in breach of the code, and more specifically of Clause 2, which deals with 'actions likely to bring discredit on, or reduce confidence in, the pharmaceutical industry'. The ABPI says that all violations took place in 2004, with the complaint being made the following year under the 2003 version of the code.

The decision was made by the ABPI Board of Management, despite its statement that it 'recognised that the current management at Abbott was taking action to avoid recurrence of such breaches in the future'.

Abbott was aware of 'problems' within the company prior to the complaint and had taken action before it was informed of the complaint. A spokesperson for the company said of the events: 'The allegations made during this case relate to the individual actions of a small number of employees employees [three, according to the ABPI] in 2004. Abbott conducted a thorough investigation and as a result, these employees either resigned or had their employment terminated.

'Abbott requires its employees to abide by the company's high standards outlined in its Code of Conduct [and] has a zero tolerance policy for behaviours that breach the company's Code of Conduct.'

Vincent Lawton, president of the ABPI, said: 'The pharmaceutical industry strives to maintain the highest possible ethical standards in all its dealings with healthcare professionals. The breaches that have been identified are viewed in a very serious light, and this is reflected in the suspension - a sanction that we have not needed to apply for many years. However, it is reassuring to note that Abbott also recognises the seriousness of the breaches, and has taken action to prevent their recurrence.'

A second audit of the company's procedures is to be undertaken in May.

The ABPI Code of Practice, a new version of which came into force in January of this year, is drawn up in consultation with the British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. It extends beyond the legal requirements controlling the advertising and promotion of medicines, and is administered by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), independently of the ABPI. Compliance with it is obligatory for ABPI member companies.

The Code and full details of any related cases can be viewed at www.pmcpa.org.uk.