AstraZeneca
This page sets out what the documents in this archive record about this company: the legal status on the date shown, the cases, the official registers and the sources.
Legal status as of 20 October 2026
Accused by credible media or a published report; no official action known.
What the documents say
Defendant in a US civil suit under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The plaintiffs allege that the company paid commissions and gave free goods to Health Ministry and Kimadia officials linked to Jaysh al-Mahdi, and that it signed at least five ministry contracts from 2006 to 2008. AstraZeneca said in 2018 that it does not accept bribes or other corruption, and disclosed a US Justice Department request about an Iraq corruption inquiry. The courts have ruled only that the claims may go forward; no fact is on record. The companies' petition No. 26-245 was pending before the Supreme Court as of 19 October 2026.
- Kind
- Company
- Roles
- Defendant in the US civil suit Atchley v. AstraZeneca through AstraZeneca UK Limited and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (pharmaceutical supplier to Kimadia)
Cases
| Case | Role | Status in this case | Detail | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atchley v. AstraZeneca: US lawsuit alleging bribes and "free goods" for Health Ministry and Kimadia officials linked to Jaysh al-Mahdi (from 2004 to 2026) | Defendant in the US civil suit Atchley v. AstraZeneca through AstraZeneca UK Limited and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (pharmaceutical supplier to Kimadia) | Accused in credible reporting | Defendant in a US civil suit under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The plaintiffs allege that the company paid commissions and gave free goods to Health Ministry and Kimadia officials linked to Jaysh al-Mahdi, and that it signed at least five ministry contracts from 2006 to 2008. AstraZeneca said in 2018 that it does not accept bribes or other corruption, and disclosed a US Justice Department request about an Iraq corruption inquiry. The courts have ruled only that the claims may go forward; no fact is on record. The companies' petition No. 26-245 was pending before the Supreme Court as of 19 October 2026. | 19 October 2026 |
Dated events
- 17 July 2020Charges dropped or case closedThe district court dismissed the suit
Documents
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit4 January 2022Court opinionTier A
Atchley v. AstraZeneca UK Ltd., No. 20-7077, opinion of 4 January 2022
DocumentOriginal addressSHA-256 50bdcace34f0There are therefore twenty-one defendants from five corporate families, AstraZeneca, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Roche.
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit23 January 2026Court opinionTier A
Atchley v. AstraZeneca UK Ltd., No. 20-7077, opinion on remand of 23 January 2026
DocumentOriginal addressSHA-256 11c3b4d3b328First, defendants paid cash bribes (called “commissions”) to Jaysh al-Mahdi in order to obtain lucrative Kimadia contracts. These “commissions” were typically 20 per cent of any contract price.
- Supreme Court of the United States24 June 2024Court docketTier A
Docket No. 23-9, AstraZeneca UK Limited, et al. v. Joshua Atchley, et al.
Document (saved page)Original addressSHA-256 5b7c14b4cc77Petition GRANTED. Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED for further consideration in light of Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh
- Supreme Court of the United States26 August 2026Court docketTier A
Docket No. 26-245, AstraZeneca UK Limited, et al. v. Joshua Atchley, et al.
Document (saved page)Original addressSHA-256 32f86d96c7bdDecision Date: January 23, 2026 Rehearing Denied: April 23, 2026
- Arabi21 (AFP)2 August 2018Press reportTier D
أمريكا تحقق بشبهات فساد للعديد من شركات الأدوية بالعراق
Original addressوقالت "أسترازينيكا" في بيان إن لديها "برنامجا متينًا وحيويا لتنفيذ القانون" وإنها "لا تقبل رشاوى أو سواها من أشكال الفساد".