UK Nurses Union Ends Partnership With Israeli Drugmaker Teva

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), the UK's largest nursing union representing over 500,000 members, has terminated its commercial relationship with Teva UK, the British subsidiary of the Israeli pharmaceutical company. The decision, reported by The Guardian on October 2, was influenced by pressure from two pro-Palestinian organizations, Nurses for Palestine and UKHPRC.

In a letter to Nurses for Palestine, RCN governing council chair Carmel O'Boyle stated that Teva UK would no longer sponsor the RCNi conference on migraine and headache management scheduled for October 30, 2026. O'Boyle cited legal issues and public criticism Teva has faced, asserting that the company's past actions do not align with the RCN's values. She emphasized the importance of commercial relationships being with companies that share the nursing profession's values.

Pro-Palestinian groups hailed the decision as a victory for the BDS movement, with a Nurses for Palestine representative stating Teva has no place sponsoring organizations dedicated to saving lives. UKHPRC added that healthcare organizations should not engage with companies linked to serious international law violations. These groups have now targeted the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, urging them to drop Teva UK as a sponsor.

Teva responded by stating that healthcare systems function best when focused on patients, not politics, and reaffirmed its commitment to providing quality, affordable medicines. The company expressed disagreement with the RCN's decision but pledged to continue focusing on patient needs.

The article also notes that Teva has faced significant fines totaling approximately £1 billion from the European Commission and U.S. authorities over the past decade for bribery, price-fixing, and market abuse. In 2024, the EC fined Teva €462.6 million for hindering competition for its multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone.

Despite these controversies, Teva is experiencing financial growth. The company reported a 43% year-over-year increase in sales for its top three original drugs in the second quarter, exceeding $1 billion. Notably, sales of Ajovy, a migraine prevention drug, rose 56%. Teva also highlighted positive results from a Phase 2a clinical trial for an experimental celiac disease drug, TEV-'408, and anticipates FDA decisions on other treatments later this year. Teva's stock has risen approximately 26% year-to-date, and nearly doubled in the past 12 months, with a current market capitalization of about $46 billion.