Merck and River Blindness
Table of Contents
Section 1…………………………………………………………………………………3
Section 2…………………………………………………………………………………4
Section 3…………………………………………………………………………………6
Section 4…………………………………………………………………………………9
Section 1: Introduction and Situational Analysis Onchocerciasis, known as river blindness, is caused by parasitic worms that live in the small black flies that breed in and about fast-moving rivers in developing countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The disease, if untreated causes extreme discomfort and eventually, blindness. In 1978, the World Health Organization estimated that over 300,000 people were blind because of the disease and another 18 million were infected. At the time, there was no safe cure (Trevino, & Nelson, 2011). In 1978, Merck, while testing invermectin (a parasite killing drug for animals), found that invermectin killed a parasite similar to the one that caused river blindness. The problem for Merck was that river blindness generally only affects people in very poor areas and there was very little chance to recoup their financial investment by selling the drug. The ethical dilemma represented by this situation is focused on what course of action Merck should take. Does Merck invest precious resources (both time and money) into testing and developing a drug that will not increase their profits? Or should Merck invest the resources knowing that their work, while not profitable, has the potential to save millions of lives and end the suffering of tens of millions more? On the Merck website, I found this listed first among their Values: Our business is preserving and improving human life. We also work to improve animal health. All of our actions must be measured by our success in achieving these goals. We value, above all, our ability to serve everyone who can benefit from the appropriate use of our products and services, thereby providing lasting consumer satisfaction (Our values, 2008). Corporate success (profit) vs.
Section 1…………………………………………………………………………………3
Section 2…………………………………………………………………………………4
Section 3…………………………………………………………………………………6
Section 4…………………………………………………………………………………9
Section 1: Introduction and Situational Analysis Onchocerciasis, known as river blindness, is caused by parasitic worms that live in the small black flies that breed in and about fast-moving rivers in developing countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The disease, if untreated causes extreme discomfort and eventually, blindness. In 1978, the World Health Organization estimated that over 300,000 people were blind because of the disease and another 18 million were infected. At the time, there was no safe cure (Trevino, & Nelson, 2011). In 1978, Merck, while testing invermectin (a parasite killing drug for animals), found that invermectin killed a parasite similar to the one that caused river blindness. The problem for Merck was that river blindness generally only affects people in very poor areas and there was very little chance to recoup their financial investment by selling the drug. The ethical dilemma represented by this situation is focused on what course of action Merck should take. Does Merck invest precious resources (both time and money) into testing and developing a drug that will not increase their profits? Or should Merck invest the resources knowing that their work, while not profitable, has the potential to save millions of lives and end the suffering of tens of millions more? On the Merck website, I found this listed first among their Values: Our business is preserving and improving human life. We also work to improve animal health. All of our actions must be measured by our success in achieving these goals. We value, above all, our ability to serve everyone who can benefit from the appropriate use of our products and services, thereby providing lasting consumer satisfaction (Our values, 2008). Corporate success (profit) vs.
References: Drisdelle, R. (2007, July 4). Eliminating river blindness. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/content/eliminating-river-blindness-a25397 Hearney (2007, March 16). Fact sheet – merck mectizan® donation program – river blindness (onchocerciasis). Retrieved from http://www.merck.com/cr/docs/River%20Blindness%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf Trevino, L.K., & Nelson, K.A. (2011). Managing business ethics: straight talk about how to do it right. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Our values. (2008, July 31). Retrieved from http://www.merck.com/about/our- values/home.html Voelker, R. (1998, December 9). Fighting lymphatic filariasis. Retrieved from http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/280/22/1898.2.extract