Ethics and Business IntegrityAt UCB, our purpose is to improve the lives of people living with severe diseases by understanding their needs and delivering meaningful solutions. We bring this purpose to life through collaboration with diverse stakeholders who share our patient-first mindset, are guided by science and are committed to advancing human health.Ethics and Business Integrity are central to UCB’s sustainability approach and apply to every employee, business partner and activity around the world. Compliance with laws, regulations, industry standards and UCB’s own policies is more than an obligation – it is essential to earning and maintaining the trust of patients, healthcare professionals, partners, investors and society. Equally important is UCB’s commitment to integrity: making decisions based on what is right, not only what is required, especially when faced with difficult choices.UCB fosters ethical leadership at every level of the organization, encouraging open dialogue, speaking up, collaboration, mutual respect and accountability. By integrating compliance and integrity into everything we do, we create the conditions for responsible innovation, sustainable growth and lasting trust – ensuring that how we achieve our goals matters as much as the goals themselves. This work is fueled by passion, innovation, and the opportunity to create meaningful impact. It also requires us to navigate complexity, uncertainty and risk. For this reason, ethics and integrity are fundamental to how we work. At UCB, we are Leading through Ethics by embedding our principles of trust, integrity, care, transparency and accountability into every decision and interaction. Anisa DhallaChief Ethics & Compliance Officer Our principles Trust is cultivated by our actions Integrity is unconditional Care is at the core Transparency makes us stronger Accountability powers our mission How does UCB uphold its Ethics and Business Integrity commitment? This starts with a strong foundation: clear standards that define what is expected and dedicated programs that translate those standards into everyday practice. This helps ensure that ethical conduct, compliance and integrity remain at the heart of everything we do.Code of ConductUCB's Code of Conduct is our governing policy that outlines the ethical business practices and decision-making framework that are expected from all UCB colleagues and partners worldwide. The Code was developed and is periodically reviewed using a co-creation approach with diverse groups within and outside UCB. This includes employees and representatives from UCB's Employee Resource Groups, contractors, and vendors. Everyone at UCB as well as our partners are responsible for embodying the Code of Conduct, living by our commitments to each other and our stakeholders. The Code of Conduct is available in 23 languages. Please select Bulgarian Chinese (Simplified) - ZH Chinese (Traditional) - ZH Czech Danish Dutch English French German Greek Hungarian Italian Japanese Korean Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Slovak Spanish Swedish Turkish Select Learn more about our Suppliers' Code of Conduct here. Leading through EthicsUCB’s Leading through Ethics strategy takes our commitment to Ethics and Business Integrity further by enabling our managers to understand and mitigate the risks we face while serving as role-models that realize opportunities through ethical leadership. This includes dedicated initiatives designed to enhance relevant competencies, enablers, and communications for those who join the organization as well as ascend in their responsibilities. Global Compliance ProgramUCB's Global Compliance Program upholds the company’s commitment to Ethics and Business Integrity, by aligning our practices with UCB’s core values as well as the expectations of regulators and standard-setting bodies, including the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and the U.S. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The program is designed to evolve alongside our dynamic business, regulatory, and social environment. Key elements of the Program include: Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CECO) Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer: UCB’s Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (CECO) independently oversees the company’s Global Compliance Program, reporting to the EVP and General Counsel with direct access to the Board of Directors. Compliance committees UCB’s Ethics and Business Integrity team partners with cross-functional Compliance Committees, made up of senior leaders across the business, to oversee compliance priorities. Written standards UCB maintains a comprehensive set of written standards, including our Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, that guide ethical decision-making and are communicated and trained across employees, contractors and third parties. Education and training UCB requires all employees to complete annual ethics and compliance training, supported by an ethical decision-making framework and additional learning as responsibilities grow. Risk assessments, auditing and monitoring UCB conducts an annual risk assessment to identify and prioritize compliance risks, which directly informs its ongoing activities, including auditing and monitoring activities throughout the year. Speaking up, non-retaliation, and internal lines of communication UCB encourages employees and third parties to speak up about potential misconduct through multiple channels, including the independently operated, 24/7 UCB Integrity Line, and strictly prohibits retaliation against good-faith reporting. More information on the UCB Integrity Line can be found here. Investigations, responding to potential violations, and corrective action UCB promptly and confidentially investigates all reported concerns on a case-by-case basis, taking corrective action — including disciplinary measures up to termination — where our values and/or written standards have not been upheld. Third party due diligence and risk management UCB conducts due diligence and ongoing risk management on all third parties acting on our behalf — such as agents, consultants and distributors — to ensure their activities align with our values and written standards. UCB's key policies Anti-bribery and anti-corruption policyUCB believes that corruption and bribery negatively impact all areas of society and are major obstacles to delivering sustainable value to patients and other stakeholders. UCB is committed to never improperly influencing the decisions or actions of others through promises of value.UCB employees must never offer, promise, pay or authorize giving anything of value – directly or indirectly – that could be construed as influencing the decision or action of an external party. This applies especially to interactions with scientists, healthcare providers, and government officials around the world. This commitment holds true regardless of local customs or practices.Access UCB’s Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy. Human Rights PolicyUCB respects the rights and dignity of all people. This long-standing commitment is articulated in our Code of Conduct, and we are a signatory of the UN Global Compact.Guided by our ethical principles of trust, integrity, care, transparency and accountability, UCB strives to prevent adverse human rights impacts across all areas of our operations. We expect the same behavior from our partners, including service providers, suppliers and other third parties acting on our behalf. If an adverse human rights impact has been caused by UCB, we are committed to providing a remedy.Access UCB’s Human Rights Policy.Learn more about our statement on the UK Modern Slavery Act and the 2025 Norway Transparency Act. 2024 Norway Transparency Act 2023 Norway Transparency Act 2022 Norway Transparency Act Frequently Asked Questions What is the role of UCB’s Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer? The Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer exercises independent judgement and has the authority to effect change within the organization as necessary to oversee and operate UCB’s Global Compliance Program. The Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer reports to the Executive Vice President and General Counsel with direct access to the Board of Directors. Who are the members of UCB’s Compliance Committees? UCB’s Compliance Committees are comprised of senior leaders from cross-functional departments, alongside key members of the Ethics and Business Integrity team, who work together to provide oversight and support for compliance efforts. What does UCB’s compliance risk assessment cover? The assessment reviews both external and internal healthcare compliance risks, including activities such as transfers of value to healthcare professionals, market access activities and interactions with government officials. Results are used to develop mitigation plans and shape auditing and monitoring priorities, with findings feeding back into business decisions and process improvements. How does UCB structure its ethics and compliance training program? Training begins for new hires and continues as employees take on greater responsibility, with materials and delivery methods routinely reviewed and adjusted to fit different roles. UCB also sets education and training expectations for our business partners. How does UCB manage risk with its third-party partners? Before engaging a third party, UCB analyses the need for the relationship and reviews whether their activities could be used to conceal unethical or non-compliant behavior. This includes routine review of compensation standards within the relevant industry and geography, and ongoing tracking of third parties that fail to meet UCB’s values or written standards. How does UCB ensure its written standards are followed? Employees, contractors, agents and other third parties acting on UCB’s behalf are trained on the written standards relevant to their roles, understand the consequences of misconduct, and are given an ethical decision-making framework to help uphold business integrity. How can employees or third parties report a concern to UCB, and what protections are in place? Employees are encouraged to first raise concerns with their manager, or alternatively through Ethics and Business Integrity, Talent Partners or Legal. Where an employee is uncomfortable using these channels, the UCB Integrity Line — available to both employees and external third parties, 24/7, via website or phone, and operated independently — allows for anonymous reporting. Reports made in good faith are protected from retaliation, which is not tolerated in any form. How does UCB investigate reported concerns? The exact nature and level of thoroughness of the investigation varies depending on the circumstances. Once an investigation has concluded, corrective actions may be taken where our values and/or written standards were not upheld, including disciplinary action up to and including termination. Preventative measures may also be developed.
