Our Guiding Principles

Our commitment is grounded in our Code of Business Conduct (Values in Action), our Sustainability Policy and our other related policies and position statements. These principles and policies outline our focus on ethical business conduct, compliance, accountability and transparency and other topics, including:

Code of Business Conduct (Values in Action) 

Our Code of Business Conduct provides guidance on making ethical decisions while conducting business on behalf of Biogen. Our clinical research and other ethical standards for our employees and business partners are included in the Code of Business Conduct. 

Elements of Our Culture 

Much like the periodic table of elements documents the building blocks of the universe around us, the Biogen Elements give shape to our company’s culture. They include fundamentals like a pioneering spirit, strong ethics, personal accountability, inclusivity, agility and an unwavering customer focus. 

Product Stewardship

We comply with applicable regulations and work to minimize adverse health, safety, environmental and social impacts of our products, and we do this while working to maximize their benefits and value through their full life cycle. One example of our efforts in this area is that we are investing in serialization technology to make our product more difficult to counterfeit, with the goal of improving patient safety and health outcomes. 

Patient Safety 

Patient safety is our highest priority and we are committed to complete and timely evaluation of the benefits and risks of our therapies and to communicating this information to help patients and health care professionals make informed treatment decisions. We take seriously our ethical and regulatory responsibility to continually assess and communicate the benefits and risks of our products and investigational therapies to patients, health care professionals and regulators. 

Global Privacy Program 

We respect the privacy and safeguard the security of the personal information we collect. Doing so is fundamental to our commitment to patients, health care professionals, business partners, employees and the communities we serve. 

Pricing & Access Principles

As a pioneer in neuroscience, we have the opportunity and responsibility to bring potentially transformative treatments to patients. We have a clear and transparent series of principles to guide our pricing and access actions for our breakthrough therapies. We recognize that prices for, and access to, treatments are chief concerns for patients, providers, payers and policy makers. We work collaboratively with all parties to help ensure that patients are not denied access to life-changing therapies. 

Learn more about our access programs and pricing principles. 

Supply Chain Responsibility

Our Code of Business Conduct, Human Rights Position Statement and Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement establish the principles and practices of ethical business, which we expect all of our suppliers, business partners and employees to follow. In addition, our commitment to inclusive sourcing and procurement practices is represented in our supplier diversity program.

Human Rights Position

Biogen respects fundamental human rights and believes that every individual deserves to be treated fairly and with dignity. Biogen is committed to supporting internationally recognized fundamental human rights activities and initiatives.

Biogen Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement

At Biogen, we are committed to upholding human rights and ensuring that modern slavery (in all its forms) is not tolerated within our global business or our supply chain. We have a zero tolerance approach to modern slavery wherever we conduct business around the world,

Transparency Reporting

Biogen is committed to meeting its global transparency reporting requirements. We believe transparency is an important part of our ongoing collaboration with the health care community, helping to build a community of trust and respect with healthcare professionals, patients, industry peers, shareholders and the public.

Clinical Trial Transparency and Data Sharing

We are committed to sharing information about our clinical research with patients and researchers to enhance public health.

Supplier Diversity – Working With Us

We believe that partnering with small and diverse suppliers supports economic growth, fosters innovation and enables us to achieve a competitive advantage globally. Our supplier diversity program ensures that small and diverse business enterprises have an equitable opportunity to compete for Biogen’s business. As such, supplier diversity is integrated into our procurement procedures. Our supplier diversity program includes businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and service-disabled veterans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and persons with disabilities.

Clinical Research and Bioethics 

We are committed to the safe and ethical use of biotechnology to improve the quality of human life, and we recognize that we must approach technology with a balance of vigilance, diligence and humility. Our approach to bioethics is guided by the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) principles, including a respect for the potential significant benefits of biotechnology and a commitment to use it only for the benefit of humankind.

Research Collaborations

We are committed to bringing novel therapies to market and focusing on hard-to-treat disease areas with significant unmet medical needs. As this challenge is often bigger than any individual company, we work with collaboration partners in both the public and private sectors to harness the latest advances in science and technology.

Animal Welfare

At times, we are required by standards of scientific best practice, or by government agencies charged with the protection of public health, to conduct or sponsor research that uses animals. When we do so, we adhere to applicable national and international laws, policies and guidelines on the humane treatment of animals used in research. These include, but are not limited to, the Animal Welfare Act, the U.S. Public Health Service Policy, the National Institutes of Health and the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

Sustainability Policy

Sustainability at Biogen stems from our commitment to both innovation and ethical conduct. By continually expanding our approach to sustainability and encompassing economic, social and environmental factors, we believe we will build a stronger, more vital company capable of making new discoveries that could improve the lives of many more people in the future.

Climate Strategy

Our impact on the environment factors significantly in how we view our mission to improve the lives of patients and operate as a responsible and sustainable company. We carefully manage the way we use resources, striving to reduce, mitigate and, in the case of carbon emissions, neutralize our footprint wherever possible.

Comprehensive Compliance Program

To conduct our business with the highest level of integrity, we have established and maintain a comprehensive compliance program in accordance with the laws of our industry and the “Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers” published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Corporate Governance Principles

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, together with our corporate governance principles, provide the framework for the corporate governance of Biogen.

Environmental Health and Safety Policy

Our Environmental, Health and Safety Policy Statement sets forth our commitment to provide and maintain a healthful and safe work environment and to minimize the impact of our business operations and products on the environment.

Political Contributions Policy

Our political contributions policy outlines Biogen’s participation in the political and legislative processes.