A second major UK health professional body has terminated its commercial relationship with Teva UK, the British subsidiary of global pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceuticals, following advocacy campaigns from pro-Palestine groups.
The Royal College of Pharmacy, which has 34,000 members and represents Britain’s pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, ended Teva UK’s status as an exhibitor at upcoming events as part of a £15,000 deal. A spokesperson stated the decision resulted from a due diligence review that revealed certain Teva Pharmaceuticals activities misaligned with the college’s values, though specific concerns were not detailed. The college noted the decision was made by its executive team following its transition to charity status in April, which prompted a review of its policies.
This action follows the Royal College of Nursing’s decision the previous week to drop Teva as a sponsor of union activities and specific events. The nursing body, representing 500,000 UK nurses, had maintained longstanding ties with the company prior to the separation. Campaigners, including UK Healthcare Petitions to Royal Colleges, circulated an open letter urging the college to apply ethical scrutiny comparable to its response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when the predecessor Royal Pharmaceutical Society ceased investments in Russian firms.
Teva responded with disappointment at the decision, stating that healthcare should remain focused on patients rather than becoming politicized. The company emphasized its commitment to serving approximately 150 million patients globally and its adherence to international laws and regulations.
The pharmaceutical manufacturer has faced significant regulatory penalties previously. In 2024, the European Commission fined Teva €462.6m for blocking competitors from the market for Copaxone, its multiple sclerosis treatment, across seven European countries for between four and nine years. In 2023, Teva agreed to pay $225m in fines to the US Department of Justice related to drug price-fixing charges. Earlier, in 2016, the company paid $519m to settle bribery-related charges involving government officials in Russia, Ukraine, and Mexico.
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