Following a lawsuit by American authorities the big British drug company GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay a 2.5 million dollar penalty. It has also agreed to change its ways by publishing all tests results, even if they are negative. This report from Stephen Evans:

Listen to the story

The pharmaceuticals industry in general has been accused of only wanting to give full publicity to drug-test results that help sales. The New York Attorney-General's office said Glaxo would now become the industry's standard. The company's difficulty, though, will come if its openness costs it money while its competitors thrive by maintaining secrecy.

Stephen Evans, BBC

Listen to the words

publicising the results
making all the results widely known and available to the public

anti-depressants
medicines or drugs that help people suffering from the mental condition of depression to feel happier and more enthusiastic about things and life

indicate
show

suicidal tendencies
if someone has suicidal tendencies, they might try to kill themselves

sued
taken to court to make them pay money for the harm their actions are said to have caused

prescribing
giving an official written order for patients to collect specific medicine or drugs from a chemist or pharmacy

The pharmaceuticals industry
companies which make drugs and other medicines for sale

the industry's standard
an example of the level of quality, service and behaviour that all pharmaceutical companies must now reach

openness
total honesty, a lack of secrecy

thrive
grow, earn good profits and become increasingly successful

Read more about this story