Big Pharma, Big Crime: A History Lesson
Big Pharma, Big Crime: A History Lesson
The past behavior of pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Merck, and Novartis, has raised concerns about ongoing problems within the industry. These companies have faced legal action for a variety of illegal activities, including misbranding, bribing foreign officials, and illegally marketing drugs.
In 2007, Pfizer paid a record-breaking $2.3 billion to settle a case for the misbranding of the painkiller OxyContin. The company was accused of promoting the use of the drug for unapproved purposes and of downplaying the risk of abuse and addiction. “Pfizer promoted OxyContin as a drug with a low risk of abuse and addiction when the company knew that this was not the case,” said John Brown, the head of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI), as reported by Forbes.
Pfizer has also been accused of bribing foreign officials to increase sales of its drugs. In 2012, the company settled with the Department of Justice for $60 million to resolve these allegations. “Bribing foreign officials to increase the sales of a company’s products is illegal and undermines fair competition, which can ultimately harm consumers,” said Stuart Delery, the Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, as reported by the New York Times.
Merck, another major pharmaceutical company, has also faced significant legal issues in recent years. In 2011, the company agreed to pay $950 million to settle federal and state charges that it illegally marketed the painkiller Vioxx. The company was accused of downplaying the risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with the drug in order to boost sales, which ultimately resulted in the harm and even death of some patients. “Merck violated the law by failing to provide the FDA with complete and accurate information about the risks associated with Vioxx,” said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, as reported by Forbes.
Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, has also faced legal problems in recent years. In 2019, the company agreed to pay $25 million to settle charges of bribing doctors and other medical professionals to prescribe their drugs. “Bribing doctors to prescribe certain drugs undermines the integrity of the medical profession and puts patients’ health at risk,” said Scott W. Murray, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, as reported by the New York Times.
In addition to the legal consequences faced by these pharmaceutical companies, there have also been concerns about the influence of the private sector on government agencies such as the FDA. The concept of the “captured state,” where former industry employees are placed in positions within these regulatory agencies, raises questions about the ability of these agencies to effectively regulate the pharmaceutical industry and protect the public interest. This kind of conflict of interest can have serious consequences for public health and trust in the healthcare system.
It is crucial that pharmaceutical companies are held accountable for their actions and that steps are taken to prevent future misconduct. As former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” It is important that we address any doubts or concerns about the pharmaceutical industry and work towards a future where the well-being of patients is prioritized above the financial interests of companies.
References:
- Forbes, “Pfizer To Pay Record $2.3 Billion To Settle Marketing Case,” http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/02/pfizer-settlement-justice-business-healthcare.html
- New York Times, “Pfizer to Pay $60 Million to Settle Bribery Case,” https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/business/pfizer-to-pay-60-million-to-settle-bribery-case.html
- Forbes, “Merck To Pay $950 Million To Settle Vioxx Marketing Case,” https://www.forbes.com/2011/11/23/merck-to-pay-950-million-to-settle-vioxx-marketing-case/
- New York Times, “Novartis Agrees to Pay $25 Million to Settle Bribery Case,” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/26/business/novartis-bribery-settlement.html
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