AstraZeneca PLC Rotten Score Breakdown

In August 2016, AstraZeneca PLC agreed to pay more than $5 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges involving improper payments by subsidiaries in China and Russia. The SEC found that employees of AstraZeneca's Chinese subsidiary made improper payments in cash, gifts and other items to healthcare providers and officials, including incentives connected with pharmaceutical sales. The SEC also found improper payments in Russia. According to the SEC, the payments were not accurately recorded in the company's books and records and AstraZeneca lacked sufficient internal accounting controls and an effective anti-corruption compliance program during the relevant period. Without admitting or denying the SEC's findings, AstraZeneca agreed to disgorgement, prejudgment interest and a civil penalty. Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2016/34-78730-s.pdf

In April 2010, AstraZeneca agreed to pay $520 million to resolve U.S. civil allegations concerning the marketing of the antipsychotic drug Seroquel. The U.S. Department of Justice alleged that AstraZeneca illegally marketed Seroquel for uses that had not been approved as safe and effective by the FDA and that this conduct caused false claims to be submitted to federal healthcare programs including Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE. The settlement resolved civil False Claims Act allegations. The federal government received approximately $302 million, while participating states and the District of Columbia shared up to approximately $218 million. Source: U.S. Department of Justice https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/pae/News/2010/apr/astrazeneca_release2.pdf