Key facts
- The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has cut ties with Teva UK, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceuticals.
- The RCN cited Teva UK's links to Israel's military and a record of corporate misconduct.
- Teva UK was a commercial partner and sponsor of an RCN event on migraine and headaches scheduled for October 30, 2026.
- Nurses for Palestine and UK Healthcare Petitions to Royal Colleges (UKHPRC) campaigned for the RCN to end its relationship with Teva UK.
- Teva Pharmaceuticals has faced significant fines and legal sanctions from European and US authorities for bribery, price-fixing, and abuse of market position.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), representing over 500,000 nurses in the UK, has terminated its commercial partnership with Teva UK, the British subsidiary of global pharmaceutical giant Teva Pharmaceuticals. The decision was made after the RCN conducted further due diligence, revealing that Teva Pharmaceuticals' operations have been subject to legal sanctions and public scrutiny, which are not aligned with the RCN's values.
Teva UK was a sponsor of the RCNi nursing leadership summit focused on migraine and headache services, scheduled for October 30, 2026. The union confirmed that the event will proceed as planned without Teva's sponsorship.
The RCN's action followed pressure from campaign groups Nurses for Palestine and UK Healthcare Petitions to Royal Colleges (UKHPRC). These groups advocate for boycotting, divesting from, and sanctioning Israel. A spokesperson for Nurses for Palestine stated that Teva has no place sponsoring professional bodies dedicated to healing and life preservation.
Teva Pharmaceuticals has a history of legal issues, including significant fines and settlements. In 2024, the European Commission fined Teva €462.6 million for blocking competition for its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. In 2023, the company agreed to pay $225 million to the US Department of Justice to resolve charges of fixing drug prices. Furthermore, Teva paid $519 million in 2016 to settle civil and criminal charges related to bribery of government officials in Russia, Ukraine, and Mexico. Over the past decade, Teva has paid approximately £1 billion in fines and other payments.
A Teva spokesperson expressed disappointment, stating that healthcare should remain focused on patients rather than being politicized, and indicated a desire for further dialogue with the RCN.