Pharmaceuticals  When I started this site in the 1990's I listed pharmaceutical companies for the reason that making products to improve human health seemed to be a noble endeavor.  But I was a bit naïve then.  Pharma companies have been the subject of substantial criticism including rigging medical research, bribing doctors to promote their products, and pushing drugs that people don't need or whose benefits are greatly exaggerated.  As Public Citizen said in 2010: "Step aside, defense industry; there's a new defrauder in town. Pharmaceutical companies have accounted for more payouts of the False Claims Act than any other industry. Drug companies have deliberately overcharged for medications and sold drugs for unapproved uses." Every single major drug-maker has been investigated for bribery (GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Eli Lilly, Pfizer; source).  Here are some fines they had to pay for their criminal activity: 2012: GlaxoSmithKline, $3 billion penalty for bribing doctors and promoting drugs for unapproved uses (USA Today) 2009: Pfizer, $2.3 million fine for similar crimes 2009: Eli Lilly, $1.4 million fine for similar crimes Another complaint is that drugs typically treat symptoms and not causes, and besides the resulting lack of effectiveness, this mindset prevents us from making progress where it's possible:  preventing disease, through healthy lifestyle.  (For example, no diabetes medicine has ever cured diabetes, but a vegetarian diet can. [source])  Finally, most of these companies likely test their products on live animals, which many people, including health professionals, object to. So I'm no longer adding new companies to this page, unless they are super amazingly exceptional in the area of social responsibility. Here's some criticism of drug companies by a medical doctor (John A. McDougall, M.D.): Intensive therapy means you will die sooner with better-looking numbers.  "Research over the past four decades has consistently shown that intensive drug treatment will lower risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure; but will also cause patients to die sooner, albeit, with better looking numbers. ... Most of my colleagues, without taking a single dime, readily come to the defense of the drugs they prescribe, and their manufacturers—the others take a bribe.  In general, people who have elevations of cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure, known as risk factors, have a greater chance of having heart attacks and strokes in the future. These elevated numbers are the signs of disease, not actual disease. During my forty years in the profession (I started medical school in 1968), I have never seen a patient die of high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and/or high blood pressure.  These people die from rotten arteries, manifesting as strokes and heart attacks. Drugs won't heal the sick arteries. The reason pharmaceutical companies sell drugs that treat the signs of diseases is they can.  The reason they don’t sell drugs that cure the underlying diseases is they can't." Drug companies buy research and medical journals.  "As a practicing physician I do not know how to correctly prescribe medications. The reason for this is that the pharmaceutical companies have fashioned so much dishonest information about their products that common knowledge about them is utterly unreliable. As you will learn from reading the following article, even the most respected medical journals and the research they print are tainted beyond belief. After finishing this article you will further understand why my primary goal in your care is to get you out of the medical, surgical, and pharmaceutical businesses – and this can be done most effectively and safely by helping you regain your lost health. Sick people take drugs and visit doctors – healthy people don't. Thankfully, there are increasing numbers of health professionals, like Richard Smith, coming to the aid of the near helpless consumer by telling the truth." Prostate cancer screening advice the result of drug companies.  "The American Urological Association (AUA) serving the interest of more than 16,000 urologic health professionals worldwide believes...'that all men, with a life expectancy of 10 years or more, should have a baseline PSA test at the age of 40.' A look at their website discloses one big reason for their position. The AUA is supported by makers of prostate cancer drugs, including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and GlaxoSmithKline, and by manufacturers and suppliers of equipment used to test and treat men. Their vested interests are blatant and so are those of other fronts for industry, such as the American College of Radiology and the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand." Lobbying doctors.  "Your doctor's education since medical school has been organized to sell drugs with billions of dollars paid by vested interests. One pharmaceutical company or another sponsors almost all lunchtime 'medical' conferences. The drug companies finance most of the scientific studies used to make medical decisions that your life depends on. From the time doctors enter medical school, they are wined and dined by drug companies." How a bone disease grew to fit the prescription. "This intricately woven story with first person interviews explains to you how the pharmaceutical and device industries 'disease monger'—in other words, turn otherwise healthy people into patients. By use of the bone mineral density test (BMD) they have created a population of middle-aged and older female customers in need of treatment for an invented disease called osteopenia. The drug companies have used similar deceptive means with prostate cancer screening (PSA testing) to lure otherwise healthy men into the prostate cancer businesses.  Enthusiastic recommendations for mammography and colonoscopy screening for breast and colon cancer have similar, but not so blatantly obvious, connections and business enhancing motivations and effects." ABT, ACL, AGN, FOLD, AMLN, ABI, AZN, AUXL, AVAN, BAX, BAYRY.PK, BIIB, BIOD, BMY, CADX, CARN.OB, CRA, CVTX, CYTX, DNA, GENZ, GSK, HBIO, HITK, IDEV, INBP, JAV, MTEX, MNKD, MDNU, MRK, NVS, PRGO, PCYC, PARD, QGLY, SGP, SQNM, SRDX, SYVC.OB, VRTX, WYE, ZILA  ABT - Abbott Named one of the top 100 companies for working mothers by Working Mothers Magazine, Abbott specializes in blood and nutrition. They have provided free HIV testing in Africa, over a million dollars to earthquake recovery in Asia, and they created the Ensure Nutrition Education Network to fight malnutrition. (RS, 7-08) ACL - Alcon Named the #60 best company to work for in Fortune, Alcon makes surgical equipment and medicines tackling eye problems. (RS, 6-08) AGN - Allergan The developers of Botox also make products to treat eye conditions, neurological disorders, obesity, acne, and psoriasis. They have won awards for their environmental health and safety track record and they award educational grants. Tests its products on animals.  (RS, 6-08) FOLD - Amicus Therapeutics From their site: "Amicus Therapeutics is pioneering a paradigm-shifting approach using pharmacological chaperone technology for treating a range of human genetic diseases in which crucial proteins are misfolded, thus reducing or eliminating their functionality. Amicus develops pharmacological chaperones - oral therapies that bind to and stabilize the affected proteins, restoring their shape, proper trafficking, and biological activity." (RS, 6-08) AMLN - Amylin Makes drugs to fight diabetes and obesity. (RS, 6-08) ABI - The Applied Biosystems Group They develop products to aid the research of pharmaceuticals. Their products also help in the research of human identity testing, animal health, environmental analysis, biosecurity (protecting against hazardous biological agents) and food testing. (RS, 6-08) AZN - AstraZeneca Named the #83 best company to work for in Fortune, Google Finance says that AstraZeneca "discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription pharmaceuticals, biologics and vaccines for principal areas of healthcare, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuroscience, oncology, respiratory and inflammation, and infection. The Company's products include Arimidex, Crestor, Nexium, Seroquel and Symbicort." (RS, 6-08) AUXL - Auxilium As of June 2008, they have one product on the market - Testim Gel for Hypogonadism - and they have six more undergoing testing. If approved, these drugs will be used to address frozen shoulder syndrome, dupuytren's contracture, peyronie's disease, pain and overactive bladder. (RS, 6-08) AVAN - Avant Produces drugs for problems such as: pandemic influenza, HIV, anthrax/plague, ecoli and cholesterol. (RS, 6-08) BAX - Baxter International According to its Web site, Baxter International is "a global medical products and services company with expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology." The Global 100 named Baxter one of the top 100 most sustainable corporations in the world. The Ethisphere Council included Baxter on its list of The World's Most Ethical companies in 2007. (RS, 6-08) BAYRY.PK - Bayer On their website, Bayer lists 90 drugs that they currently manufacture, some prescription and some over-the-counter. They vary in purpose from human health, animal health, and crop health. On June 3, 2008, they committed "2.5 Million dollars in funding to advance global hemophilia research and patient care." Also at this time, they are constructing an eco-friendly building in India. On their environmental page, they say, "The less energy we consume the better - a principle to which Bayer subscribes for both economic and environmental reasons. Because reducing energy consumption cuts both costs and CO2 emissions." (RS, 6-08) BIIB - Biogen Idec They manufacture drugs to treat arthritis, MS and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (RS, 6-08) BIOD - Biodel Producing drugs for the treatment of osteoperosis and diabetes. (RS, 6-08) BMY - Bristol-Myers Squibb They produce medicines for cancer, the heart, the immune system, infectious diseases, psychiatric disorders, wounds and ostomy care. According to their news page, they have pledged "$725,000 in monetary support plus an additional $200,000 in free medicines and $813,000 worth of infant formula and children's nutritional products to provide emergency relief to those in need" in China and Burma. They have a program called Destination Access allowing some cancer patients with financial hardship and no insurance to get cancer medication for free. (RS, 6-08) CADX - Cadence They manufacture treatments for pain, fever and local catheter site infections. (RS, 6-08) CARN.OB - Carrington Laboratories CARN.OB is a research-based pharmaceutical and medical device company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of naturally derived complex carbohydrate and other natural product therapeutics for the treatment of illnesses and wounds. (Yahoo!, 11-98) CRA - The Celera Group The Celera Group would be right at home in the movie Gattaca. It is developing diagnostic tools that look at a person's DNA and determines the medical maladies likely to arise in that person's future. Some people worry that such tests will make it harder for a test subject to get insurance if a disease-ridden future is forecasted, but the tests can help catch diseases before they become a problem and can determine the best possible treatment. (RS, 6-08) CVTX - CV Therapeutics From their site: "CV Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of new small molecule drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We apply advances in molecular biology and genetics to identify mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases and targets for drug discovery." (RS, 6-08) CYTX - Cytori According to their site, they are "dedicated to providing patients with new options for reconstructive surgery, developing treatments for cardiovascular disease, and banking patients' adult stem and regenerative cells." (RS, 6-08) DNA - Genentech Named the #5 best company to work for in Fortune, Genentech's site says they use "human genetic information to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize biotherapeutics that address significant unmet medical needs." (RS, 6-08) GENZ - Genzyme Corporation A biotechnology company that produces drugs to fight chronic renal failure, genetic diseases, graft rejection in organ transplantation, and cancer. (RS, 6-08) GSK - GlaxoSmithKline A UK based company that develops medicines to counter asthma, HIV, malaria, depression, headaches, diabetes, heart failure, digestive conditions and cancer. They make vaccines for hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, typhoid and the flu. And they make over-the-counter medicines and dental products too, such as Aquafresh. They have multiple charitable functions as well, including eliminating "lymphatic filariasis through the donation of its antiparasitic medicine, albendazole." (from their site.) They have a climate change page on their site detailing their awareness of environmental issues. (RS, 6-08) HBIO - Harvard Bioscience According to Google Finance: "Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (Harvard Bioscience) is a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of a range of specialized products, apparatus and scientific instruments, used to advance life science research at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, universities and government laboratories. The Company sell its products to thousands of researchers in over 100 countries." (RS, 7-08) HITK - Hi-Tech From Google Finance: "The Company develops, manufactures and markets products in three categories, which include generics, over-the-counter (OTC) brands and prescription brands. It produces a range of products for various disease states, including asthma, bronchial disorders, dermatological disorders, allergies, pain, stomach, oral care, neurological disorders and other conditions." (RS, 6-08) IDEV - Indevus From their site: "Our product portfolio includes multiple late stage compounds, including treatments for overactive bladder, male hypogonadism, prostate and bladder cancer, central precocious puberty, and the prevention of infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted pathogens." (RS, 6-08) INBP - Integrated BioPharma Involved in nutraceuticals, prescription meds, otc meds, nutritional supplements and herbs. (RS, 6-08) JAV - Javelin Every product they produce is for pain relief. (RS, 6-08) MTEX - Mannatech From Google Finance: "Mannatech's current portfolio of offerings include two dozen different nutritional products, three topical products, seven different skin care products, and a weight-management system consisting of four different products." (RS, 6-08) MNKD - Mannkind Corp From their site: "Mannkind is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes and cancer." As of June 2008, their main product "Technosphere Insulin" - an inhaled rather than injected insulin - is undergoing further testing. (RS, 6-08) MTXX - Matrixx Initiatives Responsible for Zicam, the homeopathic cold and flu treatment, and Nasal Comfort, which restores moisture to the nose. (RS, 6-08) MDNU - Medical Nutrition, USA Liquid protein and liquid fiber products. (RS, 6-08) MRK - Merck Famous for weathering multiple lawsuits over their pulled product Vioxx, now Merck is getting kudos from Working Mothers Magazine. The magazine likes Merck for allowing its employees to work from home, work for other employees, and generally have control over their schedules. They give health benefits to all employees, no matter how little they work. New mothers can take up to six months of job-guaranteed time off, and six weeks are fully paid. There's also a baseball field, a basketball court, tennis and jogging trails. (RS, 7-08) NVS - Novartis A Swiss-based company that produces prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, vaccines, generic drugs (when patents from other companies wear off), drugs for animal health, and contact lenses. On their environmental page, they say that they aim to minimize their impact on the environment. (RS, 6-08) PRGO - Perrigo Company Perrigo is a manufacturer of OTC pharmaceuticals, personal care and nutritional products for the store brand market. Store brand products are sold under a retailer's own label and compete with nationally advertised brand name products. (Yahoo!, 11-98) PCYC - Pharmacyclics "We are leveraging our small-molecule drug development expertise to build a pipeline in oncology and immune mediated diseases based on novel targets, pathways and mechanisms." (their site) Specifically, their products intend to target tumors, lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. (RS, 6-08) PARD - Poniard Their focus is cancer, and their main drug Picoplatin "was designed to overcome platinum resistance associated with chemotherapy in solid tumors and delay time to relapse. We are studying picoplatin in multiple cancer indications, combinations and formulations." (from their site, 6-08) QGLY - Quigley They make Cold-Eeze, a zinc-based otc treatment for colds. I switched this from the supplements sections because currently, in June 2008, they are working on what would be prescription treatments for diabetes complications, arthritis, influenza, herpes, radiation, cachexia, and avian flu. (RS, 6-08) SGP - Schering-Plough Corporation They make medicine and Working Mother Magazine says they're not bad to work for either. (RS, 7-08) SQNM - Sequenom Produces non-invasive diagnostic tests to detect prenatal defects in DNA. On June 4, 2008, the results of their down system testing seemed to be successful. They don't treat the disorders, they only detect them, so the rest is up to the mother. (RS, 6-08) SRDX - SurModics From Google Finance: "A provider of surface modification and drug delivery technologies to the healthcare industry. The services include drug delivery technologies (coatings, microparticles and implants); surface modification coating technologies that impart lubricity, prohealing and biocompatibility capabilities, components for in vitro diagnostic test kits, specialized surfaces for cell culture and microarrays." (RS, 6-08) SYVC.OB - Synovics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. SYVC.OB, a biopharmaceutical company, is engaged in discovering and developing novel biologically active compounds derived from natural sources primarily for heart disease and stroke. (Yahoo!, 11-98) VRTX - Vertex They currently (as of June 2008) have one drug on the market, Lexiva/Telzer, which treats HIV. In their pipeline they have drugs for HCV infection, bacterial infection, cystic fibrosis, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. (RS, 6-08) WYE - Wyeth Produces over-the-counter and prescription medications for humans and animals, as well as nutritional supplements. Some of their products include Advil, Caltrate, Centrum, Dimetapp, Fibercon, Preparation H and Quest Gel (to treat internal parasites in horses). Currently (May 2008), Wyeth is having trouble getting approval for its postmenopausal osteoporosis drug, bazedoxifene. Also, its new anti-depression drug Pristiq hasn't exactly made waves. On the socially responsible side of things, the EPA named it as one of the best workplaces for commuters, since they set up carpooling and shuttles for employees in car-reliant New Jersey. In 2006, it was one of Working Mother Magazine's top 100 companies for working mothers. And it donated money to efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (RS, 6-08) ZILA - Zila Parent company with many subsidiaries: Zila Pharmaceuticals, Zila Dental Supply, PracticeWorks, Zila BioTech, Oxycal Laboratories, Zia Biomedical. Oxycal's subsidiary Inter-Cal makes vitamin C supplements under the Ester-C brand name. Zila's companies also make both over-the-counter and prescription products, supplies for the practice of dentistry, and a test for oral cancer. (MBJ, 12-99) No Longer Listed SHMN.pk - Shaman Pharmaceutical Filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Shaman Pharmaceuticals is engaged in developing traditional pharmaceuticals identified through a discovery process focused on isolating active compounds from tropical plants with a history of medicinal use. (Yahoo!, 11-98) PPRT.pk - Pharmaprint, Inc. No longer trades. PPRT, a development stage company, develops and manufactures pharmaceutical versions of herbal medicines to be used in the treatment of various maladies. (Yahoo!, 11-98) CNXS -- CNS, Inc. In 2006, GlaxoSmithKline plc acquired CNS. It no longer trades separately. CNS designs, manufactures and markets Breathe Right nasal strip, a decongestant and Banish, a personal smoke deodorizer. (Yahoo!, 11-98) PDKL - PDK Labs, Inc. [Noticed in 2-01 that they're no longer listed.] PDKL manufactures and distributes nonprescription pharmaceutical products and vitamins. PDKL's line consists of pain relievers, bronchodialators, nutritional supplements and cosmetics. (Yahoo!, 11-98) SIRT - Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. In June of 2008, GlaxoSmithKline acquired Sirtris. From the Sirtris Website: "We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing proprietary, orally available, small molecule drugs with the potential to treat diseases associated with aging, such as Type 2 Diabetes. Our research focus is on modulating the sirtuins, a recently discovered class of enzymes involved in the aging process." Their research is partially based on the anti-aging effects of reservatol, found in red wine. ©1998-2011 Michael Bluejay | All rights reserved