New bribery claims cast pall on GSK results

Britain’s biggest pharmaceutical company is facing fresh allegations of bribery and corruption that will cast a pall over a better-than-expected first-half performance.

GlaxoSmithKline has confirmed it is looking into claims raised in a letter by a whistleblower that it had paid hundreds and even thousands of euros to doctors in Romania to prescribe drugs, such as Avodart, a prostate treatment.

The allegations relate to a time between 2009 and 2012 before GSK and Sir Andrew Witty, its chief executive, pledged to stop paying doctors to speak on its behalf at conferences. A GSK spokesman said: “We do receive letters of this sort from time to time. We welcome and support the opportunity for people to speak up if they have any concerns. Sometimes we do