BITTER MEDICINE

A recent review of the business world and ethics was somewhat critical of the pharmaceutical industry. "There have been a number of scandals including the disastrous "Elephant Men" trial for new drug TGN 1412, which caused massive immune reactions in six healthy volunteers. TeGenero, the firm that developed the drug, went bust after the catastrophe. GlaxoSmithKline has been embroiled in a scandal over anti-depressant Seroxat: it has been accused of hiding critical data showing the drug is linked to suicide in teenagers. GSK has also seen millions of sales wiped out after its Avandia diabetes treatment was linked to increased risk of heart attack and strokes." (Observer, 2 September) The truth is of course that capitalist business practice has nothing to do with ethics and everything to do with profits. RD