Moderna faces suspension over ethical violations in COVID-19 vaccine trials

04/30/2025 / By Laura Harris

Moderna faces suspension from the U.K. pharmaceutical trade body (ABPI) after multiple violations, including unethical incentives (cash and gifts) for child vaccine trial participation, banned under U.K. law.
Despite being alerted by campaigners in August 2023, Moderna executives ignored violations until the Health Research Authority intervened in January 2024, revealing a lack of transparency and accountability.
A senior Moderna employee promoted COVID-19 vaccines in articles (co-authored with a former minister) and on social media without disclosing ties to the company, deemed “unacceptable” by regulators.
Critics argue U.K. regulators (PMCPA) lack power to impose meaningful penalties, allowing repeat offenses. Campaigners demand stricter consequences for corporate misconduct.
Activists accuse Moderna of prioritizing profits over child safety, while revolving doors between regulators and pharma (e.g., FDA-Moderna ties) deepen skepticism about impartial oversight.

Moderna could be suspended from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) of the United Kingdom following multiple violations in the regulatory code of the industry.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), set to audit the company over “unacceptable” practices that have “brought discredit upon the industry,” reveals multiple violations of Moderna, including offering children £1,500 ($2,008) and teddy bears as incentives to participate in vaccine trials – a practice banned under U.K. regulations. (Related: Moderna now openly running vaccine experiments on CHILDREN as young as six months old.)

Moderna claimed it acted promptly after being notified by the Health Research Authority in January 2024. However, evidence shows senior executives were informed in August 2023 by the campaign group UsForThem but failed to intervene.

In turn, the PMCPA ruled the company’s lack of transparency “completely unacceptable” and a violation of U.K. clinical trial laws, which prohibit financial incentives for child participants.

A senior Moderna employee also co-authored three articles, including one with former vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi in another breach to promote their COVID-19 vaccines without disclosing his affiliation. The employee also sent promotional tweets from a personal account, failing to declare his role at Moderna. The PMCPA deemed these actions improper advertising, saying the failure to declare conflicts of interest was “unacceptable.”

Moreover, the PMCPA has identified ten additional violations, raising concerns about corporate accountability, especially as they involved three senior executives. If deficiencies are found, the Appeal Board could impose sanctions, including suspension or expulsion from the ABPI.

UsForThem founder accuses Moderna of putting profits over child safety

In response to the potential suspension, Molly Kingsley, founder of UsForThem, said that Moderna has repeatedly prioritized profits over safety, particularly concerning children.

“Many of the previous judgments against Moderna have revealed how readily it put profit ahead of the health and safety of children. Now it has also laid bare just how little regard it has had for the regulatory system that was supposed to keep it honest. Never before has a company so new to the pharmaceutical industry been rebuked in this way,” Kingsley said.

Meanwhile, critics like Esther McVey, a former member of the all-party parliamentary group on COVID-19 vaccine damage, argued that current penalties fail to deter misconduct.

“The news that the PMCPA is taking the highly unusual step of ordering an audit of Moderna’s culture, governance and compliance framework is reputationally damaging, but it is incredible that the regulator has no real power to impose appropriate fines or other meaningful penalties which might make pharmaceutical companies think twice before breaking the rules,” McVey said.

“They know they can get away with it, and so they do; time and time again. It’s hardly surprising that public trust in the pharmaceutical industry and its regulators is through the floor.”

The revelations fuel growing skepticism over pharmaceutical oversight, as campaigners demand stronger enforcement and transparency to restore confidence in vaccine safety.

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