US pharmaceutical giant Moderna is under serious scrutiny in the United Kingdom after allegations emerged that the company offered cash payments and gifts to children to participate in COVID-19 booster trials. According to The Telegraph, Moderna’s practices have led to multiple breaches of the UK’s pharmaceutical industry code, resulting in significant fines and the looming threat of suspension or expulsion from a key industry body.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), which Moderna joined only in 2023, has launched a formal audit into the company’s conduct. A decision on possible disciplinary action is expected within days. Should Moderna face suspension, it would be only the tenth company in 40 years to suffer such a penalty from the ABPI-a stark indication of the severity of the allegations.

At the heart of the controversy are incentives offered to minors, including large cash payments and promotional gifts, such as teddy bears and certificates, intended to entice participation in clinical trials for Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax.

The United Kingdom’s Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), which oversees ethical standards for drug companies, sharply criticized Moderna’s recruitment tactics. The PMCPA found that the company had initially offered payments of £1,500 ($1,872) to underage participants in the NextCOVE COVID-19 booster study through informal channels like WhatsApp messages. Although the amount was eventually reduced to £185 ($231), the original figure remained in circulation at certain recruitment sites.

The watchdog........

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