Female employee smiling

Compliance and transparency

We focus on ensuring an ethical business culture including adherence to legal requirements and industry standards, the responsible use of AI, and addressing industry specific risks such as corruption and bribery.

Providing a framework for our actions

Compliance Officer speaking to colleague looking at iPad at Grünenthal Headquarters

Compliance

Our compliance system provides a clear framework for our decisions. By applying our reasonable judgement and by being guided by our company values, we all contribute to conducting business at the highest standards and maintaining Grünenthal's good reputation.
Three colleagues taking a walk

Audit

Internal Audit is an independent and objective assurance and consulting function that helps Grünenthal achieve its objectives. During audits, the effectiveness of its control and governance processes are assessed and areas for improvement identified.
Two colleagues at Grünenthal Headquarters speaking over coffee

Risk

Effective, efficient and secure processes are the basis for a company’s successful performance. Risk Management works closely with different business areas to ensure risks are identified, assessed and mitigated according to strategic objectives.
Hannah Engels, Global Compliance & Responsibility Officer

“Our ethical framework creates clarity for our employees to help them make the right decisions and do the right thing.”

Hannah Engels

Global Compliance & Responsibility Officer

Compliance

Code of Conduct
The Grünenthal Code of Conduct sets out our commitment to the highest ethical standards. Everybody in our organisation has the responsibility to live up to these standards in their daily work. All employees sign the Code of Conduct when joining Grünenthal.
Code of Conduct (CoC)
Code of Conduct for Business Partners
We are committed to ethical business practices, and we only work with business partners who uphold the same high standards. To ensure this, we established our Code of Conduct for Business Partners, which must be signed before formally entering into a partnership.
CoC Business Partners
Ethics Helpline
We encourage everyone to report any questions, doubts or suspicions via our confidential 24/7 Ethics Helpline. Every complaint or concern is investigated by our Compliance organisation, and if the allegation refers to a potential substantial violation of human rights and/or environmental protection obligation, the Human Rights Officer shall directly undertake the investigation. We take appropriate action.
Ethics Helpline
Grünenthal’s Statement of Compliance with Human Rights and Environmental Standards
This Statement of Compliance with Human Rights and Environmental Standards elaborates on our commitment to creating a safe and respectful workplace for our people, while also minimising risks to the environment.
Compliance Statement

Ethical Business

Responsible Use of Opioids
Grünenthal’s Charter on the Responsible Use of Opioids sets out our commitment to exploring and endorsing measures that minimise the risk of inappropriate and illegitimate use of prescription opioids – while striving to ensure that individual patients with a clear need for opioid-based pain relief are not denied access.
Opioid Charter
Anti-Corruption
We are committed to conducting business in a legal, ethical and honest manner. We have a strict Anti-Corruption Policy, a Fair Market Value Tool and strict approval processes for transfers of value. These measures ensure that we do not tolerate corruption in any form.
Anti-Corruption Policy
Data Privacy, Data Ethics and AI Governance
We handle all personal data responsibly, adhering to applicable legal standards such as the GDPR. We are committed to the responsible use of digital technologies and AI systems, guided by the principles outlined in our Digital Ethics Charter and Data Protection Policy.
Bio Ethics Framework
We are committed to conducting our research activities in line with our strict Bio Ethics Framework. We adhere to clear rules for animal testing, human biological sampling and the use of other emerging technologies.

Transparency

Clinical Trial Transparency
We share clinical information that is necessary for conducting legitimate research, serving patients’ safety and improving public health. We have publicly committed to the Principles for Responsible Clinical Trial Data Sharing that were issued in January 2014 by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Clinical Trials Transparency
Disclosure of Transfers of Value
We are committed to publishing information about our collaboration with healthcare professionals (HCPs), healthcare organisations (HCOs) and Patient Organizations (POs) to demonstrate that we interact with these stakeholders ethically and transparently. The mode of disclosure may vary from country to country. Every Grünenthal affiliate that makes any transfers of value to these parties will disclose these values in line with local regulations and guidelines from local industry associations.
Disclosure of Transfers of Value

For more information on our compliance and transparency, see our Responsibility Report

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