Prosecutors have indicted the former chief executive of the South Korean unit of Novartis and five other former and current managers over allegations they illegally paid doctors 2.6 billion won ($2.3 million) in return for prescribing the company's drugs.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company in a statement expressed regret, but also said without elaborating that such conduct would not have been sanctioned by the "most senior management" at Novartis Korea.

Seoul prosecutors say they also indicted 28 others, including and publishers of medical journals, over their suspected involvement in transactions that took place between 2011 and January this year. None of the suspects has been arrested.

Novartis Korea didn't immediately return requests for comment.

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