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AstraZeneca

OVERALL

Owned
UK
Rating
Praises, some criticism

Pharmaceuticals

Best known for developing one of the first COVID-19 vaccines, the company also develops, manufactures and sells pharmaceutical and biotechnology products to treat a wide range of other disorders.

AstraZeneca plc   UK     website         

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
AstraZeneca plc
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A
In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A.
Source: CDP (2021)
Social CDP Water Security Score of A
In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of A.
Source: CDP (2021)
Business Ethics 81/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 81/100 in the Pharmaceuticals category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 7 Feb 2021). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2021)
Social 100% on Corporate Equality Index
This company is listed as having best practice on a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in corporate America.
Source: Human Rights Campaign (2021)
Business Ethics Global 100
The 2021 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list is an extensive data-driven corporate sustainability assessment. The ranked companies are leaders in the field of a sustainable business approach. The efficiency of a company's energy, water, CO2 and waste management is measured in relation to its total sales volume. The disclosure of that information is a pre-condition for the assessment. Of the 417 companies in its peer group, this company ranked #6.
Source: Corporate Knights (2021)
Social Crestor lawsuits
Hundreds of people who said they were injured by the popular cholesterol drug Crestor sued maker AstraZeneca. Those lawsuits have all been dismissed, withdrawn or quietly settled. AstraZeneca agreed to pay $110 million to resolve a Texas whistleblower lawsuit about false and misleading marketing of Crestor and another drug under a settlement announced in August 2018.
Source: Drug Watch (2018)
Social Nexium lawsuits
In 2015 this company settled multiple lawsuits related to Nexium. AstraZeneca agreed to pay $20 million to consumers in a Prilosec and Nexium class action lawsuit that had lasted for 10 years. The class action claimed the company spent $260 million on an advertising campaign to mislead consumers into buying more expensive medicine. AstraZeneca also has faced several lawsuits claiming the company did not warn its customers against all of the possible side effects and produced a defective product. In 2015 AstraZeneca also paid $7.9 million to the US government to resolve kickback allegations involving Nexium. Also in 2015, AstraZeneca agreed to pay the US government and several states $26.7 million plus interest to settle claims that the pharmaceutical company underpaid rebates owed under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, according to the US Justice Department.
Source: Drug Watch (2015)
Social Irresponsible marketing
In 2011, the AstraZeneca reached a record $68.6 million settlement with the attorneys general of 37 US states for unfair and deceptive practices in its marketing of the antipsychotic drug Seroquel. AstraZeneca allegedly promoted Seroquel for unapproved uses, failed to adequately disclose potential side effects to health care providers, and withheld scientific studies that called into question the drug's safety and efficacy.
Source: California Dept of Justice (2011)
Social Seroquel lawsuits
In 2010 this company agreed to pay $520 million to resolve allegations that it illegally marketed the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Source: US Dept of Justice (2010)
Business Ethics Tax havens
This company has been criticised by ActionAid for having subsidiaries in tax havens. One of the main reasons companies have subsidiaries in tax havens is to dodge their taxes. Developing countries lose more to tax dodging than they receive in aid each year.
Source: ActionAid (2011)
Business Ethics Anti-competitive behaviour
In 2012 the European Court of Justice upheld a 53 million euro fine against this company that penalised it for policies aimed at delaying generic competition. Europe's highest court rejected appeals against rulings from AstraZeneca that it had abused its dominant position on its anti-stomach acid drug Losec, bringing to a close a series of appeals since the company was first fined 60 million euros in 2005.
Source: Financial Times (2012)
Environment Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; commit to 100% renewable power; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty; commit to electric vehicles; commit to smart energy use.
Source: We Mean Business (2021)
Social Gender equality
This company appears on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, signifying a commitment to supporting gender equality through policy development, representation, and transparency.
Source: Bloomberg (2021)
Business Ethics AMR Industry Alliance member
This company is a member of the AMR Industry Alliance, a coalition of biotech, diagnostics, generics and research-based pharmaceutical companies set up to provide sustainable solutions to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is an increasingly significant threat to global public health which puts at risk the effective prevention and treatment of a wide range of infections.
Source: AMR Industry Alliance (2021)
Environment CDP Forests Score of C
In 2021, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of C.
Source: CDP (2021)
Social Access to Medicine ranking
This company received the ninth highest score in the Access to Medicine Index 2018, a ranking of the world's 20 largest pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to increase access to medicine in developing countries.
Source: Access to Medicine Index (2018)
Business Ethics 54.2% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 54.2/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
Business Ethics OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2020)
Information Corporate Rap Sheet
The Corporate Research Project's Corporate Rap Sheets are dossiers summarising the most significant crimes, violations and other questionable activities of the world's largest and most controversial companies. Follow link to see this company's Corporate Rap Sheet.
Source: Corporate Research Project (2018)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Founded 1999
Revenue 25.9 billion USD (2020)
Employees 76,100 (2020)
Subsidiaries AstraZeneca Pty Ltd 

Biopharmaceutical

One of Australia's largest manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, with a manufacturing plant in Sydney.

Contact Details

Address Cambridge, United Kingdom
Website astrazeneca.com

Products / Brands

AstraZeneca
Vaxzevria COVID-19 Vaccine


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