Merck Probed For Corrupt Foreign Practices
Merck has received letters from the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission seeking information about "activities in a number of countries" with reference to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Merck has received letters from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking information about “activities in a number of countries” with reference to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The Act makes it unlawful for US companies to bribe foreign government officials to obtain or retain business. Merck disclosed the information in a filing with the SEC and has said it is cooperating with the agencies and their requests.
Although the company has released no further details of the probe, third-party reports including The Wall Street Journal and Law360 claim that a spokesperson for Merck has said that it has not been charged for violating the Act and has a compliance programme in place to prevent such occurrences. On its website, Merck explains that it operates under a federal Corporate Integrity Agreement, which requires it to retain an independent review organisation to “conduct a systems review of its promotional policies and procedures and to conduct, on a sample basis, transactional reviews of Merck's promotional programs and certain Medicaid pricing calculations”. The company is also required to provide regular reports and certifications to the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General regarding its compliance with the integrity agreement.
In the SEC filing, Merck also added that it believes the inquiry is “part of a broader review of pharmaceutical industry practices in foreign countries”. According to a report from Main Justice, the DOJ and the SEC have investigated several pharmaceutical companies for potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Transformations in Drug Development for Cell and Gene Therapies
March 28th 2025As a recognized leader in immunophenotyping for clinical trials, Kevin Lang from PPD discusses how spectral flow cytometry is transforming drug development, particularly in cell and gene therapies like CAR-T. He also dives into his award-winning research, including his 2024 WRIB Poster Award-winning work, and his insights from presenting at AAPS PharmSci360.
Advancing Clinical Trials with Spectral Flow Cytometry: A Conversation with Kevin Lang
March 28th 2025As a recognized leader in immunophenotyping for clinical trials, Kevin Lang from PPD discusses how spectral flow cytometry is transforming drug development, particularly in cell and gene therapies like CAR-T. He also dives into his award-winning research, including his 2024 WRIB Poster Award-winning work, and his insights from presenting at AAPS PharmSci360.
Adding SYLOID® Mesoporous Silica to Improve Run Time and Yield for Micronization Processes
May 9th 2025A must-read for anyone in the industry looking to enhance their micronization processes. Discover how adding low percentages of SYLOID® mesoporous silica can significantly improve the run time and yield of jet milling processes for hard-to-process Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Imagine achieving a more consistent feed rate and a homogenous final product simply by pre-blending SYLOID® mesoporous silica with your APIs. Grace & Microsize conducted experiments that reveal substantial improvements in both run time and yield, making this paper an essential guide for professionals aiming to optimize their manufacturing processes and boost efficiency and feed rate consistency.
