Boehringer Ingelheim — Ethics Grade B-

Boehringer Ingelheim receives an overall ethics grade of B- (62/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Pharmaceuticals. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 70
• privacy: 85
• consumer: 60
• environment: 55
• humanRights: 68

Documented incidents (3)

• Patents Blocking Competition (medium, 2023) — Critics and legal experts have accused the company of using 'patent thickets' to protect its blockbuster respiratory drugs like Spiriva from generic competition. This tactic keeps prices high for patients for years after the core patent expires.
• Kickback Allegations (medium, 2022) — The company settled allegations that it paid kickbacks to pharmacies to induce them to recommend their drugs to Medicaid patients. These payments were characterized as sham service agreements.
• Waste Control Failures (low, 2021) — Local environmental regulators in China fined a Boehringer facility for improper discharge of pharmaceutical waste into public waterways. The company noted it improved treatment facilities shortly after.

Documented good deeds

• Global Health Access — The company provides significant donations for Rabies elimination and has been a leader in animal-to-human disease transmission prevention in developing nations.

Ethical alternatives

• Novo Nordisk — Stronger focus on sustainable insulin production and more transparent patient access programs.