Supply chain and Marketing Flashcards
What are some examples of scandals in the pharmaceutical industry?
Johnson & Johnson -
1982 Tylenol scandal - Actions to reduce deaths and warn public of poisoning by J&J were praised
2023 baby powder containing asbestos – J&J knew for decades it was contaminated, but kept it from regulators and public
The Blue guide **
What are the issues with big business in the pharma industry?
Multinational corporations are viewed suspiciously by consumers, taxpayers and voters
The needs of patients seem secondary, there is a greater emphasis on a return on investment from R&D and reducing the amount of capital it is allocated (Tax relief for R&D)
Elimination of in-house teams and the flight of scientific expertise into the biotech/biopharma sector
Industry suppression of negative data in academic publications and restriction of freedom of academics to disclose such data
Marketing disease - “peddling elixirs for trivial human conditions rather than focusing on finding drugs that ameliorate or cure debilitating disease”
Direct to consumer advertising
DTC advertising is seen as an unethical method of promoting drugs. Using celebrities to endorse drugs or offering lifestyle enhancements rather than treatments, promoting inappropriate treatments and off-label use of medicines
UK does not allow advertising of prescription-only drugs, but can advertise OTC medication to the general public
Not advertising – reference material, information on disease (not medical products) or correspondence
