Bioethics

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Our approach to bioethics

Bioethical principles support our Code of Ethics which defines our Values, behaviours and policies, informing how we conduct clinical research vital for developing innovative, life-changing medicines around the world. Our principles adhere to laws, regulations, codes, guidelines and best practices relevant to the development of medicines and devices.

Protecting the rights, safety and wellbeing of clinical study participants

We put people first – upholding the dignity, autonomy, and fundamental rights of every clinical-study participant through robust informed-consent processes, full privacy protections and the freedom to withdraw participation at any time without penalty.

We operate with integrity and transparency by securing all necessary independent ethical and health authority approvals, maintaining licences, and rigorously adhering to the International Council for Harmonisation Guideline for Good Clinical Practice as well as to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14155 for clinical investigation of medical devices for human subjects.

Responsible care and use of animals

We prioritise the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs) of animals in our work. This underpins our approach to responsible care and use of animals.

We set and maintain high animal welfare standards wherever we work in the world, ensuring compliance with regional animal welfare regulations and adherence to the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. We favour Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AALAC) accredited facilities that demonstrate these high standards through independent assessment.

We prohibit the use of wild-caught primates and great ape species and reserve any rare exceptions for board-level approval after rigorous ethical and scientific review.

Responsible handling of Human Biological Samples (HBS) & data generated from HBS, throughout their lifecycles

The use of human biological samples which include tissue, biofluids, cells, genetic material, organoids and generated data such as genomic data is based on clear, informed consent.

Participants will be given options for how their HBS will be used (incl. genomics, use in animals and future use) and will have the right to withdraw consent for these uses at any time.

We set high ethical standards – conducting due diligence on sample sourcing, including governance requirements and ethical approvals, particularly in rare cases where consent practices may have been different.

Human biological samples with particular ethical sensitivity, human embryonic stem cells and human foetal tissue follow rigorous governance processes and are only used where no alternative technology or samples would provide the scientific information required to increase our knowledge of serious diseases.

Responsible science and innovation through risk-based decision making

We are focused on the safety, efficacy and integrity of all our medical products and research. From our proactive Quality Management System and strict data protection safeguards to ethical AI deployment, specialised cell and gene-therapy protocols, we embed science and risk-based controls into everything we do.

We drive transparency and collaboration. We fund external research responsibly through clear governance, and publish our own study outcomes (positive, negative, or otherwise) in line with global ethical and publication standards.

Responsible use of genetic resources

We follow international agreements on the fair, legal, and responsible use of genetic resources from plants, animals, and ecosystems.

We support the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol and are committed to effective biosafety management.

When working with any biological materials, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we put safety first. Our rules and practices are designed to conduct work in a safe, ethical, and environmentally safe way.