December 22, 2016

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer of generic pharmaceutical products, and its wholly-owned Russian subsidiary Teva LLC (Teva Russia) agreed to pay a criminal penalty of more than $283 million in connection with schemes involving the bribery of government officials in Russia, Ukraine and Mexico in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  According to the companies’ admissions, Teva executives and Teva Russia employees paid bribes to a high-ranking Russian government official intending to influence the official to use his authority to increase sales of Teva’s multiple sclerosis drug, Copaxone, in annual drug purchase auctions held by the Russian Ministry of Health.  Teva also admitted to paying bribes to a senior government official within the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to influence the Ukrainian government’s approval of Teva drug registrations, which were necessary for the company to market and sell its products in the country.  In related SEC proceedings, Teva agreed to pay an additional $236 million in disgorgement for a total payout of roughly $520 million in criminal and regulatory penalties.  DOJ

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