Poland extends corruption probe into Britain's GSK

Polish prosecutors said today they have extended a probe into allegations that British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline bribed doctors into promoting one of its drugs.

The company also faces a bribery probe in China and last week announced it was investigating alleged corruption by staff at its pharmaceuticals division in Iraq.

"Thirteen people, including a GSK representative and 12 doctors, have been charged in this investigation, which we opened in February 2012 and extended to June 30, 2014," said Jacek Pakula, a spokesman for prosecutors in Poland's central city Lodz.

He told AFP that the events in question date back to 2010-2012 and that all of the charged individuals remain free, before refusing any further comment.

But according to a BBC report this weekend, GSK is alleged to have bribed doctors to prescribe its asthma drug in the Lodz region.

GSK confirmed in a statement released Monday that a company "investigation found evidence of inappropriate communication in contravention of GSK policy by a single employee".

The employee, who has since been disciplined, was participating in a Poland-based GSK programme relating to respiratory disease that ran from 2010 to 2012, according to the statement.

"We agree there is a need to modernise interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals to ensure patients' interests are always put first and to eliminate even a perception of a conflict of interest," GSK said, adding that it was continuing to investigate the matter.