Moon served as chief executive of Novartis Korea before he agreed to take a temporary leave of absence in April, Barrett said. South Korean laws ban drug companies from providing doctors rebates or discounts for the drugs they prescribe. Novartis did not identify the other former and current executives charged and did not provide any contact details for Moon or his attorney. According to the prosecution, Novartis’ South Korean associates, including former Novartis Korea chief executive Moon Hak-sun, tried to go around the laws by funding academic events organized by publishers of medical journals, where the invited doctors allegedly received kickbacks disguised as attendance fees. In response, the Swiss pharmaceutical company expressed regret through a statement this week, but also said without elaborating that such conduct would not have been sanctioned by the “most senior management” at Novartis Korea.

Source: New Strait Times August 13, 2016 11:37 UTC