Res 351 week 2
Unethical Research in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Lyndsae Erdmann
RES/351
01/19/15
James Bankston
Unethical Research in the Pharmaceutical Industry
The Pharmaceutical drug companies have a tendency to focus more on the sales and revenue than the research of any given product. This trend leads to misrepresentation of crucial scientific research on products. “A wide variety of research practices has been described as being used to distort the medical literature in favor of a clinical trial sponsor’s pharmaceutical intervention,” (Ross, Gross, & Krumholz, 2012, para. ).But also, not only do the drug companies practice unethical research studies, they spend money pushing products and incentives to physicians for writing the prescriptions for those drugs. That monetary value of those incentives is, often, more than the research on the drug itself. Two companies have been accused, tried, and charged for smudging results and falsifying findings for their benefit. It appears that pharmaceutical companies have interchanged the quest of treating and healing sickness and disease with the sole purpose of making money.
The Problem
Merck & Co. marketed a drug called Vioxx. The drug was said to have less gastrointestinal problems than its competition – Naproxen. However, Vioxx had considerably more side effects including; heart attacks and strokes (Vershoor,C.C, 2006). Merck and Co. were accused of several unethical acts, therefore, the drugs were pulled from the market in September 2004. Unfortunately, not before 100 million prescriptions were filled. Merck & Co. was also accused of misrepresenting or concealing of study results to doctors. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that previous studies of three patients had been withheld. All three patients suffered heart attacks when taking Vioxx. Sales reps for Merck & Co. were trained to use subliminal selling tactics. Additionally, Merck & Co. only chose biased speakers of their products at educational
Lyndsae Erdmann
RES/351
01/19/15
James Bankston
Unethical Research in the Pharmaceutical Industry
The Pharmaceutical drug companies have a tendency to focus more on the sales and revenue than the research of any given product. This trend leads to misrepresentation of crucial scientific research on products. “A wide variety of research practices has been described as being used to distort the medical literature in favor of a clinical trial sponsor’s pharmaceutical intervention,” (Ross, Gross, & Krumholz, 2012, para. ).But also, not only do the drug companies practice unethical research studies, they spend money pushing products and incentives to physicians for writing the prescriptions for those drugs. That monetary value of those incentives is, often, more than the research on the drug itself. Two companies have been accused, tried, and charged for smudging results and falsifying findings for their benefit. It appears that pharmaceutical companies have interchanged the quest of treating and healing sickness and disease with the sole purpose of making money.
The Problem
Merck & Co. marketed a drug called Vioxx. The drug was said to have less gastrointestinal problems than its competition – Naproxen. However, Vioxx had considerably more side effects including; heart attacks and strokes (Vershoor,C.C, 2006). Merck and Co. were accused of several unethical acts, therefore, the drugs were pulled from the market in September 2004. Unfortunately, not before 100 million prescriptions were filled. Merck & Co. was also accused of misrepresenting or concealing of study results to doctors. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that previous studies of three patients had been withheld. All three patients suffered heart attacks when taking Vioxx. Sales reps for Merck & Co. were trained to use subliminal selling tactics. Additionally, Merck & Co. only chose biased speakers of their products at educational
References: Cooper, D., & Schindler, P. (2011). Business Research Methods (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Gardiner, H. (2009, Sep 03). Pfizer to pay $2.3 billion to settle inquiry over marketing. New York Times (1923-Current File). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/1030675197?pq-origsite=summon Ross, J. S., Gross, C. P., & Krumholz, H. M. (2012, Jan). Promoting Transparency in Pharmaceutical Industry-Sponsored Research. American Public Health Association, 102(1), 72-80. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/1004790713?pq-origsite=summon Verschoor, C. C. (2006). Pharma Industry Has Many Ethics Issues. Strategic Finance, 87(8), 16-19