Roche is suspended from ABPI for “actions likely to bring discredit” on the industry

Roche has been suspended from membership of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) for a minimum of six months over serious breaches of the association’s code of practice.

In particular, the company was held to be in breach of clause 2, which deals with actions likely to bring discredit on, or reduce confidence in, the drug industry.

The action followed a complaint made by a former Roche employee, Ryta Kuzel, who referred to an article in the Financial Times (www.ft.com, 12 Feb, “Diet pills case sheds light on Roche practice”) that alleged the company had sold large quantities of orlistat (Xenical), a prescription only drug for the treatment of obesity, to the operator of a group of private diet clinics. The …