Public reprimand for Sanofi

• Date posted
  01 May 2015
• Sanction
  Public reprimand,
• Case number/s
  AUTH/2736/9/14 - Voluntary admission by Sanofi

Sanofi has been publicly reprimanded by the Code of Practice Appeal Board for the breadth and scale of its failings to disclose and document its interactions with numerous patient organisations (Case AUTH/2736/9/14).

Sanofi had voluntarily admitted its failings in process and procedure, however, given the time period and the extent to which such failings had gone undetected, the Panel considered that its concerns about the company’s procedures warranted consideration by the Appeal Board. The systemic failure with respect to the whole process of working with patient organisations was of grave concern.

The Panel reported Sanofi to the Appeal Board. On consideration of that report in December 2014, the Appeal Board noted that the transparency of a pharmaceutical company’s interactions with patient organisations was critical. Whilst interactions with patient organisations was a legitimate activity, the arrangements in place at Sanofi at the relevant time were shambolic and shocking. The Appeal Board was extremely concerned about Sanofi’s conduct and it decided to require an audit of its procedures in relation to the Code.

The audit, conducted in March 2015, was combined with the re-audit in Case AUTH/2620/7/13. Upon consideration of that audit report, the Appeal Board noted some concerns with the company’s activities which should be addressed as a priority. In addition, it considered that, provided a company-wide focus and responsibility for compliance was maintained, no further action was required.