Comments on: Novartis Whisteblower: The Departing E-mail

By: insider

insider — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:14:25 +0000

Kannan Natarajan’s firing David costed Novartis at least over 300 millions. Kannan did similar thing in BMS and costed BMS big money. He is considered un ethical by a lot of his coworkers. If they put him on stand I think David has a lot to win.

By: thesasprogrammer

thesasprogrammer — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:04:46 +0000

You have missed the best part.
Ask David for his reply to the dismissal notification….

By: Insurance Quotes

Insurance Quotes — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:15:05 +0000

Insurance Quotes…

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:02:51 +0000

FYI, I worked with the man. He’s crazy.

By: Melody

Melody — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:20:20 +0000

Chris & I.M.–

Thanks for the discussion. You hearten me because since you “get it” I can only believe that lots of others “get it.” Chris, by way of apology, I will grant you this: it is much easier (especially in the blogosphere) to paint with a broad brush. IOW, I don’t think that (most) of the employees of these corporations are evil, or even greedy. But when the ‘faces’ that represents them to the public exhibits only narcissism and greed, they DO get painted with that brush. Likewise, I recognize that there is often not much these folks can do; they are out there feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads . . . and recognize that they ARE EXPENDABLE, too.

By: I.M. Annoyed

I.M. Annoyed — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:25:46 +0000

I think the point that Melody and others are trying to make is about the amount of competitiveness in the industry. Companies who try to do the right thing and take the time to do the right thing get left eating dust. Their stock holders see the achievements of the others and demand the same. Corners get cut, the patient suffers. The marketing department of these pharma’s have been very aggressive in their campaigns. They actually have patients think that some of their drugs are “miracles” this plays completely on the “god” issues.

Let’s face it the marketing department have done their homework, they figured out the mind sets of average patients, they have tapped into their fears and they are playing on them in some disrespectful manner all in an effort to earn their bonus, make more money, buy more toys and feel really important. In many ways their jobs are to keep the patients motivated to fight the bureaucracy for them to ensure that government, HMO and insurance companies continue to foot the bill for their expensive pills.

Patients should be treated, cared and cured in the hospital.

Product prices need to be regulated and marketing dollars spent needs to be scrutinized - graft for doctors and patients needs to be completely stopped.

When the lives of fellow human beings are at stake - we can not afford to be “business as usual”.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:45:22 +0000

Melody, you are correct on all fronts. And the untrelenting agenda of which I speak is indeed driven by the people you mention, and I have every sympathy for them and their families if they have suffered as you describe. But what I have said more than once, is that the characterization of an entire industry as being corrupt, motivated only by profit, fraudulent and dismissive of patients’ concern is absolutely wrong and such characterization suggests lack of perspective on the part of those hammering that particlular point. For sure, “individuals whose greed explains their disdain for the lives of others” should be identified and dealth with, but surely you aren’t saying that the entire industry is guilty? Because if you are, and some of the comments I am responding to seem to go along with that, that’s what I find hard to take seriously and that’s what spoils some valid points that if made less hysterically, could be taken more seriously.

By: Melody

Melody — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 12:09:46 +0000

I can only suspect, then, that you or someone about whom you care, has not been tragically harmed or needlessly killed because they (or their doctor) had not been informed of the potential for harm. I imagine your issue of “tiresomeness” is more than offset by feelings of passion by those who have experienced such harm. And the unrelenting agenda of which you speak is oftentimes sparked by people who (1) hope to educate others to prevent repetition (2) expose individuals whose greed explains their disdain for the lives of others.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 01:56:23 +0000

No Melody, I do not believe that malice and greed do not exist in pharma. I am not an insider (I think most of my comments state that), and I do believe that most people in pharma are generally OK, just like any other industry one could mention. I, you and plenty of others could probably list transcripts that counter Sen Specter’s comments in the above - so I think it is about context, perspective and balance. Some of which the Senator might wish to consider. What I said above is that I find unrelenting, agenada-driven onslaughts on the industry to be a bit tiresome. That’s all.

By: Melody

Melody — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 23:12:35 +0000

Itâ€™s plain wrong to assume that â€˜itâ€™ is corrupt and out to mislead patients, regulators and payers and frankly, as one involved in the pharma industry.

The industry insider above (Chris) obviously doesn’t believe that malice and greed exist in pharma?? Is that what he would have us believe. I just watched a Senate Judiciary hearing (re: AG Gonzalez). Toward the end of the hearing, Sen. Specter had an exchange with the AG which illustrates that not only are SOME within the ranks of pharma malicious, but they are arrogant, knowing that the current administration supports big business–Big Pharma included. The pertinent exchange involved the oxycontin settlement (by Purdue): the link to the transcript follows the text:

let me cover one more subject very briefly, and that is the issue on OxyContin.
This is a matter, Attorney General Gonzales, where your department entered into a plea agreement with the Purdue Frederick Company, where scores of people died as a result of OxyContin abuse, and even a greater number became addicted.
And the situation arose where there was an acknowledgment where there was an intense to mislead. Now, that is — that constitutes malice. Reckless disregard for the life of somebody else would support a common law prosecution for murder in second degree.
Now, the question is: Why does the Department of Justice enter into a plea agreement for a fine?
SPECTER: No jail times. The cost of doing business. The only way to deter white collar crime is if there is a penalty involved, if people go to jail who acknowledge that they deliberately misled to sell a product.
What was the reason for that?
GONZALES: Senator, it was the considered judgment of the prosecutor that it would be — he was not confident that the evidence would support the intent, the individual intent or malice of the corporate executives, and that he took advantage of the statute passed by Congress to hold these individuals liable without having to show intent. And, as a consequence, they’re paying $30 million in fines.
This was a very difficult and very complex case. And so I think that the prosecutors here looked at the evidence…
SPECTER: How many deaths were there?
GONZALES: I can’t answer that question.
SPECTER: Would you answer it? Did you review this case?
GONZALES: I did not review this case.
SPECTER: Do you know much money is involved for this corporation to sell this product?
GONZALES: I don’t know the answer to that question.
SPECTER: $30 million may be a cheap license.
GONZALES: Well, the $600 million for the company.
SPECTER: $600 million may be a slightly more expensive cheap license.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/gonzalez_transcript_072407.html