Pharmaceutical companies have strayed from their main objective of drug discovery to emphasize on marketing strategies for drugs; many pharmaceutical companies do not plough their profits into the research for the discovery of drugs. Instead, they use their profits to advertise their drugs to physician and patients, some of the profits are used to fund legal proceedings to severe exclusive government marketing rights (Marcia, 12)
Pharmaceutical companies focus on commercially viable drugs at the expense of preventive drugs; most pharmaceutical companies focus their research into the discovery of drugs that are used to cure lifestyle diseases like hypertension, obesity-related diseases and diabetes. Because these drugs are demanded by developing countries and people of high social standing. Research into the drugs that can prevent diseases that are related to poverty like malaria and HIV/Aids get very minimal research funding because they are not as economically lucrative and they sales have low-profit margin (Marcia, 20 ).
Influence medical research; even though most drug research is conducted by institutions funded by taxpayers. Pharmaceutical companies influence the outcomes of this drug-related research, and they manipulate these institutions to exaggerate the efficiency of the drugs and overlook some of the negative side effects (Marcia, 25).
Promote the use of generic drugs; when pharmaceutical companies launches a new drug to the market they make copycats of the drug and sell it at a higher price than the original drug, they do this by manipulating the consumers to believe that the copycat is more efficient than the original which is usually rarely true (Marcia, 29).
Example;
A drug used to treat allergies Claritin is highly exaggerated about its efficiency. In the clinical trial stage of its production, the clinical results were rigged with the result positively exaggerated. The Food and Drug Administration Agency was influenced to approve it despite the rigged clinical results.
HIV/Aids treatment drugs like Zidovudine have more expensive copy cats like Zalcitabine that consumers have been misled to believe to be more efficient thus slightly more expensive yet this is not true.
Utilitarian perspective on the pharmaceutical industry
Exploitative industry; pharmaceutical industry are exploiting their consumers, and they make drugs expensive with the claims of profits used in funding research. It Is not true because a bulk of the drug profits is used in marketing and control of government institutions to influence the policy making process
Unethical industry; pharmaceutical industry has become very unethical, they are more profit oriented than humanitarian oriented, they cheat in clinical trials and don’t disclose all the necessary information to their consumer about their products, its contents and effects (Marcia, 2005).
Corrupt; the pharmaceutical industry is heavily into corruption, they use their profits to influence the congress, Food and Drug administration agency and medical institutions. They ensure that policies that are made by the senate and FDA favor their objectives; they also influence doctor’s practice favoring their operations (Marcia, 33).
Example
According to financial times (2004), Glaxo Smith Kline was fined 13 billion dollar by United States pharmaceutical regulators for marketing drugs beyond their authorized use. Is a clear scenario of a pharmaceutical company that is misleading consumers in order to maximize their profits.
Kantian perspective of the pharmaceutical industry
Increase productivity; a healthy nation is a working nation, the pharmaceuticals industry enables the population to stay healthy by providing medication and medical equipment that manage disease in the population, lowering the negative impacts of diseases making the population productive.
Strengthen the economy; one person spending is another person’s income, the expenses that pharmaceutical consumers spend on their products enable the industry to create jobs. A number of people are employed by pharmaceutical companies and are dependent on them to earn a living.
Fair compensation; the pharmaceutical company has policies that ensure participants in clinical trials are compensated fairly depending on the level of risk they are exposed to. Before any drug is launched into the market, the pharmaceutical companies ensure the benefits exceed the negative effects.
Example
Johnson and Johnson pharmaceutical company was the leading pharmaceutical company in 2014, and this was based on revenue. Clearly shows that this company impacted the society by providing employment opportunities, improving the economy and increasing the value of life of American citizens.
Work cited
Angell, Marcia. The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It. New York: Random House, 2005. Print.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/94e3da58-c5f1-11e1-a3d5-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3JPYx4voj
http://www.statista.com/statistics/272717/top-global-biotech-and-pharmaceutical-companies-based-on-revenue/
