'Unethical behaviour' spoils drug giants' good work for the poor

London

THE world's top drugmakers have improved access to medicines in developing countries, according to a report, but their good work is undermined by a sorry record of unethical behaviour. The Access to Medicines Index, which ranks the 20 leading pharmaceutical companies every two years on how well they get treatments to the poor, said the industry's progress had been "uneven".

Eighteen of the firms monitored were the subject of settlements or fines for corrupt behaviour, unethical marketing or breaches of competition law in the last two years.