Bad Pharma

February 2, 2022
Zürich, Switzerland

A list of crimes and corruption perpetrated by global pharmaceutical companies, leading to multibillion-dollar litigations and verdicts.

This article is a guest post by an employee at a major tech company mandating vaccination against Covid19.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to list the crimes and corruption perpetrated by global pharmaceutical companies. Reflecting on the reality that these are for-profit companies with a very long and sordid history of crimes, corruption, falsifying data, and harming people is particularly important during these times when our company is making Covid vaccines compulsory.

To require that an employee take an irreversible injection with no long-term safety data made by for-profit companies with this type of history as a condition to participate in normal office life is unconscionable. Especially because people under 50 years of age have less than a 0.2% (~0.15% global average IFR) chance of harm from this respiratory illness.

My hope is that this data will appeal to the senses of a data-driven company staffed with data-driven individuals.

Disclaimer

To clear any confusion, I want to state that I am not “anti-vaxx”, I am very much pro-vaccinations, I think they are wonderful technology and I have had many. I think mRNA technology is fascinating and, in general, I fully support the advancement of medical technology. Two things can be true, you can be pro-vaccine and be hesitant for this specific injection or against medical mandates.

List of Pharma Crimes and Corruption

Quick Highlights

Pfizer plead guilty to criminal charges and was ordered to pay a then record $2.3 billion dollar fine and labeled a “repeat offender” in illegally marketing 13 different drugs
Johnson & Johnson knew there was asbestos in products aimed at mothers and babies, knew of the potential harm and “misrepresented the safety of these products for decades”.
Court ruled that Johnson & Johnson Was ‘Kingpin’ in opioid epidemic and targeted children, elderly with marketing
AstraZeneca paid $520 million to settle fraud case for intentionally marketing drugs — by paying kickbacks to doctors — for a variety of illnesses for which it had never been tested.
Pharma Fined 14 Billion Dollars in 5 Years.
“From 1991 through 2015, a total of 373 settlements were reached between the federal and state governments and pharmaceutical manufacturers, for a total of $35.7 billion. Of these, 140 were federal settlements, for $31.9 billion, and 233 were state settlements, for $3.8 billion.”
Purdue OxyContin settlement would rank among largest in pharma history.
Opioid Scandal Haunts Drug Companies As They Respond To Pandemic.
Iraq war victims allege pharmaceutical companies' bribery led to U.S. troop deaths.

AstraZeneca

Drug Giant AstraZeneca to Pay $520 Million to Settle Fraud Case https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Health/astrazeneca-pay-520-million-illegally-marketing-seroquel-schizophrenia/story?id=10488647

AstraZeneca takes $6m hit after 'faking conferences' to bribe doctors https://www.standard.co.uk/business/astrazeneca-takes-6m-hit-after-faking-conferences-to-bribe-doctors-a3333166.html

Johnson & Johnson

Court Documents: Johnson & Johnson Was ‘Kingpin’ In Opioid Epidemic And Targeted Children, Elderly With Marketing https://khn.org/morning-breakout/court-documents-johnson-johnson-was-kingpin-in-opioid-epidemic-and-targeted-children-elderly-with-marketing/

Johnson & Johnson to pay $2.2 billion to end U.S. drug probes https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jnj-settlement/johnson-johnson-said-to-pay-2-2-billion-to-end-u-s-marketing-probes-idUSBRE9A30MM20131104

”…the company (J&J) knew there was asbestos in products aimed at mothers and babies, knew of the potential harm and “misrepresented the safety of these products for decades.” https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/johnson-johnson-asks-high-court-void-2b-talc-77997067

$750 million: Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay in baby powder case https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/750-million-johnson-johnson-ordered-pay-baby-powder-case/UXrlMgzhabcri6eym3bsGP/

Johnson & Johnson to pay $572m for fueling Oklahoma opioid crisis, judge rules https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/26/johnson-and-johnson-opioid-crisis-ruling-responsibility-oklahoma-latest

Johnson & Johnson settles Ohio lawsuits to avoid federal trial https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-opioid-ohio-idUSKBN1WH00F

J&J unit to pay $360 million to U.S. to resolve charity kickback probe https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-settlement-idUSKBN1O51XB

Pfizer

Pfizer accuses Johnson & Johnson of 'anticompetitive practices' in lawsuit https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/09/20/pfizer-accuses-johnson-johnson-anticompetitive-practices-lawsuit/684374001/

Pfizer to pay $2.3 billion, agrees to criminal plea https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfizer-settlement-sb-idUSTRE5813XB20090903

Nigeria sues Pfizer for $7bn over 'illegal' tests on children https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/05/health.healthandwellbeing1

“At Pfizer I was expected to increase profits at all costs, even when sales meant endangering lives.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfizer-whistleblower-idUSN021592920090903

Pfizer settles foreign bribery case with U.S. government https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfizer-settlement-idUSBRE8760WM20120807

Pfizer in $486 million settlement of Celebrex, Bextra litigation https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pfizer-lawsuit-idUSKCN10D1D8

Pfizer has a policy against ghostwriters, but when it acquired Parke and its Neurontin blockbuster it apparently bought an enthusiastic ghostwriting shop within it.”https://www.cbsnews.com/news/inside-pfizers-ghostwriting-shop-friendly-drug-studies-for-just-1000/#app

Pfizer to Pay $430 Million Fine over Illegal Marketing https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1895708

Pfizer "Bribe" Scandal in Philippines Heats Up; Company Offered Posters to the President https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pfizer-bribe-scandal-in-philippines-heats-up-company-offered-posters-to-the-president/

GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline settles healthcare fraud case for $3 billion https://www.reuters.com/article/us-glaxo-settlement-idUSBRE8610S720120702

Glaxo given 'serious' warning on false vaccine information https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jul/14/health.medicineandhealth

Glaxo to pay $750 million in adulterated drugs case https://www.reuters.com/article/us-glaxosmithkline-settlement/glaxo-to-pay-750-million-in-adulterated-drugs-case-idUSTRE69P4GH20101027

Evidence grows for narcolepsy link to GSK swine flu shot https://www.reuters.com/article/us-narcolepsy-vaccine-pandemrix-idUSBRE90L07H20130122 “There’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Pandemrix increased the occurrence of narcolepsy onset in children in some countries - and probably in most countries,” says Mignot, a specialist in the sleep disorder at Stanford University in the United States.

UK study strengthens link between GSK flu shot and narcolepsy https://www.reuters.com/article/us-flu-gsk-narcolepsy-britain-idUSBRE90U0JW20130131

Chinese police charge British former head of GSK in China with bribery https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-glaxosmithkline/chinese-police-charge-british-former-head-of-gsk-in-china-with-bribery-idUSBREA4D03720140514

Sex video new twist in GSK China bribery scandal https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-gsk-china-idUKKBN0F40YR20140630

Merck

Merck settles Vioxx claims for $4.85 billion https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-settlement/merck-settles-vioxx-claims-for-4-85-bln-idUSWNAS178420071109

https://trialsitenews.com/mercks-deadly-vioxx-playbook-redux-a-debunked-smear-campaign-against-its-competing-drug-the-fda-approved-nobel-prize-honored-ivermectin/

Merck accused of stonewalling in mumps vaccine antitrust lawsuit https://www.reuters.com/article/health-vaccine-idUSL1N0YQ0W820150604

Former Merck Scientists Sue Merck Alleging MMR Vaccine Efficacy Fraud https://ahrp.org/former-merck-scientists-sue-merck-alleging-mmr-vaccine-efficacy-fraud/

Merck Created Hit List to "Destroy," "Neutralize" or "Discredit" Dissenting Doctors https://www.cbsnews.com/news/merck-created-hit-list-to-destroy-neutralize-or-discredit-dissenting-doctors/

New Merck Allegations: A Fake Journal; Ghostwritten Studies; Vioxx Pop Songs; PR Execs Harass Reporters https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-merck-allegations-a-fake-journal-ghostwritten-studies-vioxx-pop-songs-pr-execs-harass-reporters/

Gardasil Researcher Speaks Out https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gardasil-researcher-speaks-out/

New Worries About Gardasil Safety https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-worries-about-gardasil-safety/

HPV vaccine is neither safe nor effective https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/readers-respond/bs-ed-vaccine-letter-20150812-story.html

U.S. court pays $6 million to Gardasil victims https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/31/us-court-pays-6-million-gardasil-victims/

Merck to pay $688 million to settle Enhance lawsuits https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-settlements-idUSBRE91D0R520130214

Is Merck's Singulair Patent a Fraud? Suit Lays Out Timeline of Omissions https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-mercks-singulair-patent-a-fraud-suit-lays-out-timeline-of-omissions/ “Merck deliberately engaged in inequitable and fraudulent conduct in its statements and submissions to the PTO.”

U.S. court upholds dismissal of $200 million Merck verdict against Gilead https://www.reuters.com/article/us-merck-gilead-ruling/us-court-upholds-dismissal-of-200-million-merck-verdict-against-gilead-idUSKBN1HW24U “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a June 2016 ruling that the two Merck patents, which cover methods of treating Hepatitis C, were unenforceable because of a pattern of misconduct by the company, including lying under oath by one of its in-house lawyers.”

Rampant Criminality

How authorities say drugmaker paid off doctors, lied to insurance companies to push potentially lethal fentanyl-based drug https://abcnews.go.com/Business/authorities-drugmaker-paid-off-doctors-lied-insurance-companies/story?id=61488372

Teva settles multibillion-dollar drug kickback case ahead of trial https://www.reuters.com/article/health-teva/teva-settles-multibillion-dollar-drug-kickback-case-ahead-of-trial-idUSL2N25B1NZ

Abbott to pay $1.6 billion for Depakote marketing https://www.reuters.com/article/us-abbott-settlement-idUSBRE8460UK20120507

Eli Lilly to pay $1.42 bln to resolve Zyprexa probes https://www.reuters.com/article/elililly-idUSBNG34185720090115

Cancer drug probe nets $875 million settlement https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-10-04-0110040343-story.html

Court approves Amgen's $762 million payment in drug case https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amgen-plea-marketing-idUSBRE8BI1BT20121219

Allergan signs $750 million settlement with purchasers of Alzheimer's drug Namenda https://www.reuters.com/article/us-allergan-namenda-settlement/allergan-signs-750-million-settlement-with-purchasers-of-alzheimers-drug-namenda-idUSKBN1YS1C4

AIDS drug maker settles kickback charges for $704 million http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9728522/ns/business-corporate_scandals/t/aids-drug-maker-settles-kickback-charges/

California lawsuit accuses Bristol-Myers Squibb of fraud, kickbacks https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2011-mar-19-la-fi-drug-kickbacks-20110319-story.html

Ex-pharma CEO pleads guilty to kickbacks to doctors for opioid prescriptions https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/09/ex-pharma-ceo-pleads-guilty-to-kickbacks-to-doctors-for-opioid-prescriptions/

U.S. sues Novartis, alleging kickbacks to pharmacies https://www.reuters.com/article/us-novartis-fraud-lawsuit-idUSBRE93M1C920130424

Baxter admits flu product contained live bird flu virus https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/baxter-admits-flu-product-contained-live-bird-flu-virus-1.374503

Dengue vaccine fiasco leads to criminal charges for researcher in the Philippines https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/dengue-vaccine-fiasco-leads-criminal-charges-researcher-philippines

Charity to pay $4 million to resolve U.S. pharma kickback probe https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-healthcare-charities-settlement-idUSKBN1XU2MY

New York doctor convicted of taking kickbacks from opioid maker Insys https://www.reuters.com/article/us-insys-opioids-new-york-idUSKBN1Y92Q3

Ex-pharma CEO pleads guilty to kickbacks to doctors for opioid prescriptions https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/09/ex-pharma-ceo-pleads-guilty-to-kickbacks-to-doctors-for-opioid-prescriptions/

Cashing in on dementia patients: drugmaker to pay $116 million in fraud settlement https://kfor.com/2019/09/26/cashing-in-on-dementia-patients-drugmaker-to-pay-116-million-in-fraud-settlement/

Sanofi Pays $25 Million to Settle Bribery Charges https://www.wsj.com/articles/sanofi-pays-25-million-to-settle-bribery-charges-1536081510

Wyeth loses Prempro trial, to pay $1.5 million https://www.reuters.com/article/us-wyeth-prempro-verdict-idUSN2929344620070129 “Wyeth protected their bottom dollar instead of protecting the patients,” Zoe Littlepage, attorney for plaintiff Mary Daniel, said in a statement.”

Zantac and other heartburn drugs recalled over possible cancer link https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zantac-recall-heartburn-drugs-possible-cancer-link/

List of FDA Recalls

Types of Recalls

The FDA classifies each recall based on the severity of injury that the product may cause. In addition, manufacturers may conduct market withdrawals or medical devices safety alerts:

Class I Recall: This is the most serious type of recall. There is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious adverse events or death. Products such as pacemakers, heart devices and lifesaving drugs fall into this category.
Class II Recall: The majority of recalls fall in this category. Products under a Class II recall can cause temporary or reversible adverse events. Many medical implants, such as hips or knees, fall in this category. Injuries from Class II devices can still be serious, but are not typically life-threatening.
Class III Recall: These products are not as likely to cause injuries.

Recall Stats

Since 2012:

There have been 12,787 total drug recalls issued by the FDA
On average, 1,279 drugs are recalled every year
1,317 Class I drug recalls have been issued by the FDA
10,168 Class II drug recalls have been issued by the FDA
1,302 Class III drug recalls have been issued by the FDA
Class I makes up 10.3% of all drug recalls
Class II makes up 79.5% of all drug recalls
Class III makes up 10.3% of all drug recalls

This means that 89.7% of the 1,273 drugs recalled every year at best “can cause temporary or reversible adverse events” and at worst “there is a reasonable probability that the product will cause serious adverse events or death”.

Source: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-recalls

Noteworthy Recalls

Cerivastatin (Baycol)

Maker: Bayer
Recalled: In 2001, after four years on the market.
Financial damage: Litigation-related damages totaled $1.2 billion

Baycol, prescribed to patients as a treatment for high cholesterol, is reportedly responsible for more than 100,000 deaths and about as many lawsuits. It was connected to a severe muscle disorder known as rhabdomyolysis, which clogs the kidneys with protein from dying muscle tissue.

Rofecoxib (Vioxx)

Maker: Merck
Recalled: In 2004, after five years on the market.
Financial damage: nearly $6 billion in litigation-related expenses alone

Vioxx is considered to be the largest drug recall in history, and one which elicited one of the greatest public outcries. Vioxx, prescribed to more than 20 million people as a pain reliever for arthritis, was found to be responsible for increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Both Merck and the FDA were roundly criticized for ignoring evidence of the dangers of Vioxx before its eventual recall. The Lancet reported that as many as 140,000 people could have suffered from serious coronary heart disease from taking the drug in the US alone. Merck settled Vioxx litigation in the US for $4.8 billion, with close to $1 billion in legal expenses.

Valdecoxib (Bextra)

Maker: Pfizer
Recalled: In 2005, after just one year on the market.
Financial damage: Over $2 billion in legal awards and expenses.

Bextra, like Vioxx, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that was prescribed to treat arthritis and pain from other inflammatory disorders. It was removed from the market not long after Vioxx over similar concerns – increased risk of heart attack and stroke. In some cases, it was also found to cause a fatal skin condition. Although less publicized and the subject of fewer lawsuits, Bextra still resulted in $1.8 billion in legal awards against Pfizer and its subsidiary Pharamcia & UpJohn (not including expenses). The reason Bextra is on this list, however, is because it gave rise to one of the largest criminal fines ever imposed in the US. Pharmacia & UpJohn Company was fined $1.195 billion, in addition to legal awards, after admitting to criminal wrongdoing, specifically with ‘intent to defraud or mislead’ in relation to the promotion of the drug.

Troglitazone (Rezulin)

Maker: Warner-Lambert
Recalled: In 2000, after one year on the market.
Financial damage: Warner-Lambert grossed $2.1 billion in sales before recall

The Rezulin saga, originally aired by the Los Angeles Times, was an ugly view into the process by which Rezulin was eventually removed from the market, but only after the FDA seemingly delayed the process due to complaints by Rezulin’s manufacturer. A FDA doctor who voiced concern over the drug was later removed from his position at the behest of Warner-Lambert, an action that delayed the recall process. Rezulin, an anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory drug, was eventually found to be causally connected with hepatitis.

Mibefradil (Posicor)

Maker: Roche
Recalled: In 1998, after one year on the market.
Financial damage: Analysts had projected $2.9 billion in sales within 4 years

In only one year on the market, Posicor was linked to 123 deaths. Considered relatively safe when taken alone, Posicor became potentially deadly when combined with any of 25 different drugs. The large number of deaths are troublesome considering that the drug was prescribed to no more than 200,000 people worldwide in the space of one year, a relatively small number. Posicor is on this list for stimulating debate surrounding policies encouraging the FDA to hasten the approval of certain drugs. It is often cited as a strong example of what can go wrong when drugs are rushed to market.