Comments

1. cliffintokyo

   • December 28th, 2010
   • 12:57 am
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   I read the GSK price approval miss-type as:
   “…..UK rebate if (P)fizzier drug is better”
   This seems too flippant even for whimsical GSK!
   Makes me ponder more generally: Surely we must have reached the lowest point in trivialization of (expensive) pharma R & D…it can only get better? (i.e. return to doing good science)

2. Anne PME

   • December 29th, 2010
   • 8:14 am
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   Ed,
   Have a great vacation!
   Anne

3. Condor

   • December 31st, 2010
   • 10:38 am
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   Happy New Year, one and all!

   One tidbit as we ring the old year out — if I may — there was a very well-researched, long article, by Jesse Drucker, for Bloomberg, two nights ago — concerning the almost unimaginably vast (and at least arguably legal) U.S. income-tax-shirking that’s been the norm, for decades in U.S. mulitnational big pharma.

   The Bloomberg article was particularly critical of Merck’s bust-up partner, Schering-Plough — and its transparent tax avoidance scheme, that has now cost the “New Merck” company nearly a half billion in taxes and penalties it will never recover.

   But the article is broader than one case — and is broader than just pharma — the energy and tech sectors are guilty of it, as well. Do go read — and do voice your concern, to your elected officials — about this most socialist of corporate welfare programs: the US-tax-dodge on repatriated foreign earnings.

   Namaste, and a genuinely prosperous (not tax avoidance-manufactured) New Year to all!

4. Mr. Experience

   • January 1st, 2011
   • 4:05 pm
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   Condor,

   Just about all my friends and neighbors have read the item and have been glued to the literary news section of their morning papers, waiting in anticipation of further stories.

   This should be the sole topic of conversation for anyone over the age of 90.

   Thanks so much. Keep the news rolling.

   It’s people like you whose informative and never ending dullness, make America what it is today. Don’t let us down.

5. Condor

   • January 2nd, 2011
   • 2:53 pm
   • Link to this comment

   Gee, Mr. Experience –

   I didn’t think sarcasm (yours) was to be a permitted comment-writing style — until after January 18 — this year. Ah well.
   So be it.

   Your mileage varies. Very well, then. Right.

   Did’ja see that the SEC finally handed down the settled Lucent sanctions, for the telecom having (allegedly) systematically violated the FCPA, all under Patricia Russo’s leadership (at least 1999 to 2008)?

   Yep — and here’s a SURPRISE! — she’s an ex-Schering-Plough lead director, a current Merck director (with no committee appointments), and the lead director at GM (all mostly courtesy of various forms of Ed “Grim Reaper” Whitacre’s largess).

   Do try to have a better ‘11, dude.

   Namaste, just the same.

6. Mr. Experience

   • January 2nd, 2011
   • 3:24 pm
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   Condor,

   You missed your calling. You should consider being a classified ad writer.

   Oh, the Namaste is spelled incorrectly. You left a letter out. It should read Namwaste. In America the official language is ENGLISH. Try India or even Nepal. They probably know more than one word.

7. Condor

   • January 2nd, 2011
   • 6:53 pm
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   Cheers, Mr. Experience.

   You seem to need it.

8. Mr. Experience

   • January 2nd, 2011
   • 7:32 pm
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   Condor,

   You are a very decent guy, to so nicely put up with my humor. I hope you know that I am just having innocent fun. I really appreciate your input.

   Sometimes, we all need a little humor. I have been known to inject one liners at some serious meetings. It’s a definite tension breaker. When used, it has always been a nice break and the others get a chance to laugh at or laugh with my joking. Business at hand then seems to be easier to handle.

   Where I live, it rains most of the year. So, that’s why we have no parades. The saying, “raining on your parade” gave birth here. Who wants a rainy parade!