So where are the hardcore right wingers saying we should let the consumers do undercover investigations and levy fines?

Everytime they screw consumers the names of all of their brand name products should also be listed in the articles.

People don't know who GSK is. If you say the makers also responsible for advair, flonase, fluarix, zantac, zofran, and relenza people might know who they are talking about

Holy @!$%#!

I agree with another commenter - com'on MSNBC - you have half a story here. Get the facts. Name names!

Will there be a recall? Will consumers (like me) be filing a class-action law suit?

$750 million, or as their operating budget calls it, "walking around money".

This is a multi-billion dollar corporation. That fine is chump change. All they'll do is slightly increase the price on one of their more popular drugs to pay for this and the beat will go on.

What a joke...

Headlines " drug company's raise their price 20%, due to unwarranted government intervention "most drugs are no longer made in the Continental United States, we must be very careful, no drugs from overseas, because they are not made to American standards ,oops, Puerta Rico is a American territory !

Exactly right Jabba. I noticed that this sloppy manufacturing was done in Puerto Rico. J&J just closed a plant they had there, because they screwed up their OTC medications too. I suppose this is what happens when the jobs are outsourced, instead of being made in the continental USA, not a territory of the US. Also, I am convinced that lots of these manufacturing errors are the result of layoffs and cut backs that are excessive, leading to little to no oversight of the process.

with the fines being so relatively minor, the drug companies are willing to take the chance that things won't be as precise as they would be in the US.... a risk/reward calculation it seems. Save tons of money with the sloppy foreign manufacture and, if caught, a relatively small fine is assessed. Bottom line, they still make money. Shameful, if you ask me. We need to make these guys bleed money when caught to deter future errors that could be avoided if oversight was what it should be.

What are saying is that in the Main land they do not make the same mistake, Salmonela in the eggs, infected baby food and ect, .

When people see a commercial for a new drug that describes minor side affects such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, erectile dysfunction, anal leakage, cancer in children, and in rare instances death, and then are stupid enough to purchase and consume this med, what harm can some bad press do for the drug maker?

There is an easy solution: Take the monopoly away from these corporate drug pushers. Legalize marijuana, vote yes on 19. Too long has our country been at the mercy of big pharm when it comes to how we treat our illnesses. Hundreds of DANGEROUS drugs can be directly replaced by a non-toxic, overdose free, and self-procurable medication: Marijuana.

And yet, marijuana is still illegal.

So in the continental USA we do not makes mistakes with medication, like yaz, and food poisoning egg with salmonella, infected vegetables and baby food with cholera. Is not about who makes the product is who is approving it.

The government is too big, thats the problem. If corporations were left to regulate themselves stuff like this wouldn't happen... oh, wait...

@JPJohnson

That's because pharma has literally billions of dollars tied up in R&D / future sales of cancer related drugs that don't hold a friggin stick to what pot does to alleviate chronic pain, chemo effects, etc.

Well, that reason, and the fact that anyone can grow it = government can't regulate and tax it.

Actually pharma has literally billions of dollars tied up in advertisement and commericals. They don't spend much on R&D since they get most of their new drugs from research at public universities and other public supported grants.

Actually pharma has literally billions of dollars tied up in advertisement and commericals. They don't spend much on R&D since they get most of their new drugs from research at public universities and other public supported grants.

Completely inaccurate on so many levels. Companies spend BILLIONS on research and development (it's in their annual reports, feel free to look it up). When I was with Pfizer, it was in the 8-10 billion dollar range per year.

Secondly, pharma R&D does not get their drugs or research from public universities or grants. You seriously need to do your homework on that one. About 90% of all drug research in this country is performed by the pharma industry. The rest is composed of public grant and university studies, but the pharma industry does not take their research, sorry. Things called PATENTS actually happen. Drug discovery is done by the company and patented. Not by public entities. Sorry to burst your bubble.

there has been a lot of misinformation, incorrect statements, and plain ignorance regarding the pharma industry spouted on this message board. DTC advertising, debates regarding R&D costs, bringing up the salmonella egg outbreak, all have nothing to do with this topic.

So instead of repeating what everyone has posted above here's something to digest...i'd like to point out this was all brought on by a former employee who after being fired. ever heard of qui tam? she's entitled to a hefty portion of this $750 mil, definitely some motive there. remember all of this is alleged, nothing's technically been proven yet (although it's possible that it will be)...it's cheaper and in the best interest of GSK to settle and this former employee knows they can/will settle big. just saying this isn't all about consumer safety, somebody is going to get very very rich. keep this in mind when vilifying a company that keeps the vast majority of its customers safe and healthy.

You are correct, however, there is one big difference between Pfizer and public universities. Pfizer spends billions on drugs that when all said and done have no desired effect except that they spent billions developing it. So instead of actually making drugs that are effective, they push their chosen drugs through the systems with BS reports and paid off scientist to confirm the results they want. It's a huge fixed system. They care little if the drugs actually work only if they can buy their way onto the market. It's all a crock. Just do some limited research, you'll see drugs like Lipitor only decrease cholesterol slightly in some studies and even negligable compared to placebo (sugar pills). The most effective control of cholesterol in study after study is a change in the dietary habits of those with high cholesterol. The drug makers run a huge scam on the public, they actually kill more people than they claim to save. Most Americans have bought into this nonsense, a pill won't save your life, only getting off the couch and stop stuffing your face with McDonalds and Twinkies. It's a joke, thanks for only telling half the story penguin15, my brother worked for Pfizer as well and believe me they really don't care about helping people.

Beer - you speak as if the pharmaceutical companies are really looking out for the public's best interest. That is ridiculous. Big Pharma would mass produce a vaccine for sneezing if they could figure out how to manipulate a study to prove its effectiveness.

pharma has told us for years we pay the high prices for drugs because they are so pure and high quality. now we know that's not true.

You can bet the "whistle blower" will get a nice chunk of change when she sues GSK!

Cha-ching!!!!! Good for her!

Pfizer spends billions on drugs that when all said and done have no desired effect except that they spent billions developing it. So instead of actually making drugs that are effective, they push their chosen drugs through the systems with BS reports and paid off scientist to confirm the results they want. It's a huge fixed system.

Just not true, man. I doubt that patients using Viagra, Lipitor, Norvasc, etc. would say that there's "no effect". The only scientists that work on the drugs are Pfizer employees, who are paid to test according to compendial methods, which are then reviewed by FDA. There's no faking a GC or HPLC test result. Sorry, you're wrong, and you have no evidence to back your assertions.

The most effective control of cholesterol in study after study is a change in the dietary habits of those with high cholesterol.

While I agree with you there, to state that companies are "just making it up" is completely inaccurate. As a single treatment, yes, dietary changes would make the biggest difference, but dietary PLUS medication gives you an even better benefit. Just because dietary changes work doesn't mean that the medicine doesn't. Combined they provide the best way to lower cholesterol. I understand bitterness toward these companies, but to say that their medications are ineffective is just nonsense.

The drug makers run a huge scam on the public, they actually kill more people than they claim to save.

That's ludicrous. I mean, c'mon, that's just nonsensical. At a time when cancer and heart disease are the top two killers, you're going to tell me that pharma drugs kill more than they save? C'MON, MAN! If you're going to say this, at least have data to support it. If not, it's just your (ridiculous) opinion.

At a time when cancer and heart disease are the top two killers, you're going to tell me that pharma drugs kill more than they save?

And with all the drugs we take for it show no signs of letting up. Fact: many pharmaceutical medications have as a side effect heart disease and/or cancer.

and...cholesterol doesn't CAUSE heart disease.

So be sure to NOT take the drugs when you get cancer, mmkay?

There is no surprise at this news. The Pharma industry in this country has been carrying on criminal activity for years. That is why we pay more for our medicine here than anywhere else in the world. Those who post a defense of the shoddy practices of drug manufacturers are of course receiving compensation from the perpetrators.

I know there are plenty of honest hardworking people employed by the drug industry, but they are low level functionaries working for crooks and scam artists. The same crooks that pay that lying weasel little Billy Tauzins millions to lobby the politicians so their nefarious business practices can continue unpunished.

It is sickening.

So be sure to NOT take the drugs when you get cancer, mmkay?

Yes, as long as you take your statin and believe you'll be spared a heart attack!

Fact: many pharmaceutical medications have as a side effect heart disease and/or cancer.

Um, no. That is a ridiculous assertion Robert. Show some evidence, or it's just your OPINION.

Yes, as long as you take your statin and believe you'll be spared a heart attack!

Evidence exists that the risk of heart attack is lower with statins and other cholesterol-lowering medication. No one said that the risk is eliminated, Robert...just lower.

I'm sure you'll never go to a hospital or see a doctor or take medication if you ever get really sick. I hope that karma finds you and gets you to see the light. I'm sure your wife will tell you to get medication if you find that you have cancer or heart disease down the road. I'm sure you'll take it too, but you'll never admit to it, for fear of being a hypocrite. Better to be a hypocrite and alive, though, then a fool without medication. Not getting medication doesn't make you a hero or get you into heaven, btw...just makes you look foolish and hurts the ones who love you. Seek help, man. You seem to have psychological issues. Not a professional opinion, but you have issues with trusting others.

and...cholesterol doesn't CAUSE heart disease.

Not alone, but it contributes to it, as does plaque in the arteries, stress, etc. To ignore the effects of cholesterol on the circulatory system is pretty darn ignorant.

And with all the drugs we take for it show no signs of letting up.

And yet you ignore all of the drugs that are helping get rid of cancer. Hmmm, biased much?

Fact: Because we've eliminated many of today's preventable illnesses, the incidence of cancer and heart disease is increasing because you've got to die of something. Cancer eventually finds its way into many people, as it's just rapid, uncontrolled cell growth due to DNA mutations. If you're not dying of preventable diseases, you'll eventually succumb to cancer or heart disease. This means that it's not the drugs that are giving us cancer, Robert, it's the fact that we've eliminated many of the other ways to die via drugs. But yeah, blame the drugs...it's not like you have evidence to support this assertion anyway.

ME: Fact: many pharmaceutical medications have as a side effect heart disease and/or cancer.

Penquin: Um, no. That is a ridiculous assertion Robert. Show some evidence, or it's just your OPINION.

This would shut a normal penquin up. But you'll actually say "well, um, er, that's not what it really means" followed by the most insane explanation. You're a pharmaceutical scientist. You should know better, right?

Treatment with Humira may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer such as lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) or autoimmune disorders (such as a lupus-like syndrome). This risk may be greater in children and young adults.
Drugs.com

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Yasmin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, pain behind the eyes, problems with vision, speech, or balance; (stroke)

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; (heart attack)

• a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches;

• stomach pain, loss of appetite, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• a breast lump; or (breast cancer)

• symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes).

Phentermine

Cardiovascular: Primary pulmonary hypertension and/or regurgitant cardiac valvular disease, palpitation, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure.

Central Nervous System: Overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache, rarely psychotic episodes at recommended doses.

Gastrointestinal: Dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.

Allergic: Urticaria

Endocrine: Impotence, changes in libido.

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/phentermine-side-effects.html#ixzz13ZsZjhJu



Trazadone:

Cardiovascular system effects which have been reported include the following: conduction block, orthostatic hypotension and syncope, palpitations, bradycardia, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, and ventricular ectopic activity, including ventricular tachycardia.

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/trazodone-side-effects.html#ixzz13ZtCBhl4

AVandia

In patients receiving thiazolidinedione therapy, serious adverse events with or without a fatal outcome, potentially related to volume expansion (e.g., congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and pleural effusions) have been reported [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/avandia-side-effects.html#ixzz13ZtbISxA

Oh, there is plenty more if you need me to continue or you still doubt.

Your original statement is false. While SOME drugs may present the RISK for these side effects, not all drugs do, Robert, which is what your original assertion was.

Oh, and another thing, not all "chest pain" is a heart attack, not all "confusion" is a stroke, etc. Your ASSUMPTION that these things are the case is the reason you're not a doctor.

Seriously, get some help. You're borderline delusional on associating these symptoms with actual medical diagnoses.

Robert, there is no drug without risk. If the FDA were to only approve drugs with no chance of side effects...well there wouldn't be anything out there, even tylenol (hepatic risks).

Drugs like Avandia and Phenteramine are generally prescribed to obese patients, who already have CV risk factors simply because they are obese.

Risks with OCPs occur for the entire class of OCPs. Certain women absolutely should not take them (smokers for example). I am fully aware of the risks, yet I and millions of other women also take the pill...the benefit of not getting pregnant and avoiding severe bleeding and pain every month outweighs the risks for me at least (not overweight, non smoker, no heart disease, etc). Can the rare otherwise healthy woman have a stroke because of the pill? Sure, but it would be so rare. I am more likely to need surgery(ies) to fix my "female parts" with all those associated risks, than I am to have a stroke on an OCP.

Robert, do you think there should be less prescription and OTC drugs available for consumers?

I am fully aware of the risks, yet I and millions of other women also take the pill...the benefit of not getting pregnant and avoiding severe bleeding and pain every month outweighs the risks for me at least

Unfortunately you won't know when you are developing cancer. You typically don't know if you have a blood clot until it's too late. But at least you know.

Robert, do you think there should be less prescription and OTC drugs available for consumers?

I don't know if there should be less available or not but there definitely should be less consumed.

The risk of breast cancer is so small in women with no family history of breast cancer. Even with the potential slight increase in risk, the chance is still very small.

Please clarify your comment about there being the need to consume less prescription and/or OTC drugs. Who would mandate this? How would it be enforced?

Who would mandate this? How would it be enforced?

The people would. Stop believing that we need as much medicine as we're taking. We are a overmedicated society and much what we think is necessary doesn't work.

CDC Says Americans Fatally Overmedicated

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-05-28/health/ep.age.meds_1_geriatric-medicine-disease-beers-criteria?_s=PM:HEALTH

"Is Grandma drugged up?"

http://www.overdosedamerica.com/

While SOME drugs may present the RISK for these side effects, not all drugs do, Robert, which is what your original assertion was.

I didn't say ALL drugs did. Once again you misrepresent. This has become a major problem for you. It's a source of your anger and frustration because it interferes with your ability to LISTEN to what other people are actually saying and your ability to communicate with other people.

The people would. Stop believing that we need as much medicine as we're taking. We are a overmedicated society and much what we think is necessary doesn't work.

Unfortunately for you, WE ALREADY ARE in charge of this. You have free will, so you're able to follow doctor's orders or not. Nobody's forcing pills down your throat, at least not mine. Remember, Robert...you claimed to never have taken medication in your life (not even aspirin), so your livelihood isn't being threatened by any of this.

You can take medication and live, or not and die. The great thing about this country is our freedom to do this. So why do you consider this not to be the case? It's not as if people are being forced to take these drugs!

It's not as if people are being forced to take these drugs!

But they are taking them. Why do you believe this is?

Because they choose to feel better/get better? You have a headache, you take an OTC pain med. You have asthma, you use an inhaler. You have astronomical cholesterol levels...you take a statin. You have cancer, you most likely get chemo or a biological therapy.

And how's that working out?

clearly by the posts and the "like" votes everyone here really hates pharma...I hope none of you are actually taking medication now or plan on taking medications if you are ever afflicted with an illness someday. that will help lower my healthcare costs :)

Penguin15, is your last name McKinnell by any chance?? Clearly a Pfizer company drone, excuse me, sales rep.

and most of the illness/conditions/diseases they are treating also have serious side effects, like death and disability if untreated.

piffle...like anxiety, erectile dysfunction and restless leg syndrome?

well, hold on a sec Wakehead.... most drugs yes, but with "Bonerific" you get a hard on for what... an extra 4 hours? no biggie.... just keep doing it until the extra effect wears off.... could be worse, right? I really dont see a downside.... or am I missing something....

You know what my husband says: "If you get an erection lasting longer than 4 hours................be greatful!!!!!!! lololol

And speeking of side effects, sometime I would rather deal with the original problem than all the side effects. I know that meds aren't perfect but should we really be trading yellow toenails for dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, hairless, ect.. Me personally I'm torn you know I really like my hair and being clear headed; but wait! there's more now they can give you more medication for all the side effects that are cause by the original medication. They are nothing more than legalized drug dealers with only their profit margin being ridiculously huge, and we the "patients" are the ones who are getting screwed in the long run.

What more people need to do is:

Research the meds before you take them, and listen during the commercial to what the side efffects are. When I HEAR the spokesperson say that possible serious organ damage, and in some cases DEATH may occur......I'll pass.

My doctor prescribed Avandia to me for 8 years!!! How has my health been negatively affacted by drugs that were adulterated or mislabeled? Will I ever see any compensation for what may have shortened my life?? NOOOO! And tehy say Canadian drugs can't be trusted--give me a break!!!!!

Are you blaming the poor folks needing to feed their families and employed in the manufacturing and packaging process by the pharmaceutical giants as the culprits here ?

people who need jobs are "sub-life forms" ?

Get real !

"The government claimed that the plant churned out medications that were mislabeled"

That's just wonderful! You kept wondering why you had to keep running to the toilet so often when you thought you were taking an anti-diarrhea medication, and all that time it turns out you were actually taking a laxative!

We pay Trillions upon Trillions in taxes for our government to police this sort of thing and we have to rely on a "whistle blower" to bring it to light. Government workers make 40% more than private sector workers and they still don't do the job for us. Don't feed me that whiny "understaffed" crap.

Just like the government auditorswatching Bernie Madeoff. Blinded by a couple bottles of 20-year-old scotch/month.

Uh, yes, if pills ended up in the wrong bottles and the labels were wrong, the employee running that line/machine wasn't paying attention. At the very least, the supervisor running that line wasn't paying attention.

Sorry, liberals, the CEOs aren't to blame for everything.

I am just a dumb citizen/consumer. So, if I get caught with "bad dope" I forfeit my house, car, money, savings, reputation, basically, everything I own, summarily. So if "big pharma" gets caught with "bad dope" they, what---get a little fine and keep doing things status quo? Time to treat everybody the same.

Because just like the doctors who get away with hurting and killing people and keep their license so do these drug companys. Our justice system protects them and the cheats in our majors companys and government. Guess who really set up the laws to protect. Most definitely not us.

Unfortunately, while I agree their should be charges for criminal behavior, Big Pharma owns your representatives in Congress. And until that changes none of this will change.

You should see what they do to the environment, Puerto Rico has practically no compliance laws in terms of air permits or processed water discharges.

Huge profits? Really? have you ever looked at the finacials? I doubt it.

And never mind the little things they nhave done like provide highly effective treatments for cancer, diabetes, organ rejections... things like that, you know, unimportant.....

tls, pharmaceuticals is one of the biggest industries in PR since a LONG time ago, they use the same manufacturing regulations like everyone else in the US, same SOP's and ISO's, that comment about quality, nonsense. How many substandard work is made in the continental usOFa? LOTS.

D.Man, where do you get that info from? PR is under the jurisdiction of EPA, as well as other Federal agencies, in terms of the environment and they have their own State agencies for the same purposes. In the case of pharmaceuticals, and other technology related manufacturing, is closely overseen by the same people that oversee everything done in the CONUS. The fact that this sad situation happened in PR has nothing to do with how everything else is done, just like in the good 'ol US. PR is neither "oversees" nor "outsourced" (check the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917). Bigotry is not bliss.

It is no secret that Big Pharma is one of the most profitable industries in the US, if not the most profitable. What industry outside of Big Pharma can charge in excess of 3000% profit margins? What industry can pay out $750 million in one suit, with many more waiting in the pipeline, and continue as if nothing happened?

What effective treatments for cancer and diabetes??? There aren't any. We are throwing millions at Susan G with no end in sight. The cancer clinics with the most effective therapies are in Mexico and Germany. Read the world scientific literature, and not the studies that are paid for by that industry.

Craig, it must be a secret because you have no idea what you are talkiang about. ALL public companies must publish profit margins. They are all over the web. A simple google will tell you this:

NET Profit Margins:

Phizer -14%

Bristol Myers Squib - 17%

Eli Lilly - 15%

These are not earth shattering numbers here. MANY industries do much better, Network and communications equipment, you know the stuff bringing you this post, averages almost 29% profit. THAT is as high as the Fortune 500 sees.

Pharma charges what they charge to cover the R&D and continuing studies of everything they make that must go on until they stop selling the drug, legal defense, marketing, and patent infringement protection. This is an expensive business to be in.

These huge 3 and 4 digit profits you people imagine simply do not exist, except maybe in some software companies, show business and sports. Open your mind and look into these things with a critical stance on BOTH sides of the issue.

ScoMata,

R&D? Much of the research used by drug companies to develop drugs is actually done at our universities; not by the drug companies themselves.

Mickey

False, not even close! The vast majority of R&D is in house mostly due to the level of expertise required and patent infringement issues with corporate spies. Also, when Universities do perform research DRUG COMPANIES PAY FOR IT! Universities often perform studies on existing drugs, but that is completely different.

You guys have no clue.

ScoMata,

You sound like you work for a drug company.

I have in the past as a consultant and I know what I am talking about.

In the 90's I designed the software Bristol Myers Squibb uses to manage and analyse on going worldwide research on all their nutritional and pharmacuitical product lines. The lengths they go to is almost unbelievable.

Seen it.

Agreed. It's public record how much these companies spend on R&D (billions), and this doesn't take into account the marketing -- just the research.

As for universities, etc....only 10% of research is done by colleges and private grants...the rest is done by pharma industry. PATENTS would make taking R&D from the universities impossible (which company would get the patent, as none of them would have intellectual property rights). Get your facts straight.

I have in the past as a consultant...

Consultant = code for lobbyist.

ScoMata and penguin15,

"in 1999 a survey of twenty-nine top (academic) institutions revealed that 61 percent of their (pharmaceutical) research was federally sponsored.^{8 "}

The above quote is from Health Affairs. You can find it in a link below. Most universities' pharmaceutical research is federally funded and not funded by Big Pharma. Furthermore Big Pharma spends twice as much money on marketing (advertising) as it spends on research and development. Check out the two links below. You might find them enlightening.

http://www.sciencedailey.com/releases/2008/01/080105140107.htm

http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/20/5/202#SEC1

An independent consultant who is paid an hourly rate to work at a pharma company, usually performing specialized tasks, has nothing to do with lobbying congress.

Lay off the kool aid man.

The above quote is from Health Affairs. You can find it in a link below. Most universities' pharmaceutical research is federally funded and not funded by Big Pharma.

I wasn't disputing the fact that university research is funded by taxpayers. I was disputing the idea that "big pharma" research is funded by taxpayers and is done by universities. If this wasn't the implication, I apologize, but I believe someone wrote that big pharma's research was federally-funded and done mainly by universities for them, which is a complete misstatement.

As for the percentages, while 61% of university studies are federally-funded, this does not mean that those studies account for that percentage of the overall amount of research. These university studies still account for only 10% of all drug research, with PRIVATE companies accounting for the other 90%.

Puerto Rico is a U.S. protectorate with a non-voting observer in Congress. So, does manufacturing there actually count as outsourcing? Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.

Puerto Rico is not outsourcing. They are US Citizens. By the way they are in the process of deciding if they will become our 51st state, become independent country, or maintain the status quo.

I kind of hope they become our 51st state, then they will pay taxes too.

You guys are confusing outsourcing with off shoring. Outsourcing just means they let another company do the work instead of one of their own employees. When they do that with a foreign country, it's a specific type of outsourcing known as off shore outsourcing, or "off shoring", as it's called. Just semantics, but there is a difference.

..Russell......how are they going to pay taxes when their median income is $9600 yearly?

My daughter and son-in-law were stationed in Puerto Rico from 2002 thru 2004, and said local conditions were worse than in the LA slums, and they were told not to go off base unless they had to.......Don't think we can afford a welfare state just yet

Ellis: We played a song in band way back in the early 60's called, "Port-au-Prince." Our band director had been there in the military & told us what a 3rd World Country it was even THEN!

Puerto Rico has been manufacturing drugs for at least 35 years, and probably much longer then that. I can't believe that GSK didn't have knowledge of poor manufacturing processes at the factory. Sounds fishy to me...

It's also sad that, most likely, the PR factory workers make significantly less then the mainland US employees. The US corporate employees are compensated well, especially the marketing people. Huge budgets, unlimited paid sick leave, 37.5 hour week, perks galore!

Port-au-Prince is in Haiti, not Puerto Rico.

Off shoring and outsourcing are two different things. Outsourcing can be to a company down the street. If they are in another country, it is offshoring.

The government can do nothing to stop it, never has been able to, never will be able to. All the company has to do is simply move its headquarters offshore.

Quit whining about it.

I think Puerto Rico is smart enough not to become a state.

Why should they pay for what they get for free?

The term "United States" when used in a geographical sense on official documents, acts and/or laws; includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. These "non states" are represented in the US Congress, have leverage with congress lobbyists, and PACS, but but have no voting rights.

They are about 51%-49% against statehood. WHen they start losing free benifits, THEN they will vote for statehood.

Of course they are about making money dopey, that's what company's do. Many people will be afraid to buy their OTC medicines now (as Tylenol about it) and they will take a hit. The $750 million will come from Insurance company's and GSK will take a hit on their premiums next year. Stop demonizing company's or we will not have any jobs in the future thanks to the Libtards and Super O.

exactly, when was the last time they cured anything? No different than drug dealers the go to doctor's offices passing out all the free samples, which are passed on to the person who will consume the meds per doctors orders, then the consumer is written a prescription to let the drug manufacturers to dispense. The money isn't in the cure it's in the come back, you get them hooked or made to believe they have to have it and next thing you know they have to decide whether they can afford the $457 presciption this month or the next.

Furious,

Go and talk to Cancer patients that are still here because of the drugs that company's invest billions into R&D to develop you idiot. Maybe Super O can develop these drugs between rounds of golf or maybe the Feds can just reimburse them their R&D cost and they can sell it at a cheaper price. I'm sure a good Liberal wouldn't mind your tax bracket going to 80% so the R&D can be recouped. Or maybe we send our entire Paycheck to Super O and get the OC, Obama Card. Need Meds, flash the OC, need a car, yup, the OC has you covered, need a house, put it on the OC. The Obama Card, don't leave home without it!

"when was the last time they cured anything"

THE most ignorant thing posted on the vine in months. Without a doubt.

Well, when WAS the last time they cured anything?? The big, continuous money for doctors and drug companies comes from lifetime treatments, not one time cures. I've been around since the late 1940s, and the last cure I remember was polio. I'm sure losing lots of money on polio made them realize that cures aren't anywhere near as financially lucrative as long term treatments, regardless of the pain and suffering these forever treatments cause. These exhorbitant costs are the reason for 55% of all personal bankruptcies in the U.S..

Richard, you do realise they have taken cacer survival in many types from 5% to 95% survival via chemotherepy, right? You do realise they have almost perfected organ rejection, right? You do realise they have mastered the treatment of congestive heart failure with Digoxin and Lasix, right? You do know they have made diabetes almost completely manageable to the point an NFL QB plays with the disease, right? I could go on, but your post shows you have no clue how much progress against our biggest killers "Big Pharma" has made, and how much better your chances are if you come down with something serious.

Keep demonizing the people making your life and your chances at living a long one better. That makes sense.

So lets see... On one hand we pi$$ and moan that medication is too expensive and that's why medical costs are so out of control in this country. On the other we pi$$ and moan that there isn't enough regulation and oversight or large enough fines levied to punish drug companies for their negligent behavior. Keeping in mind that costs like R&D, clinical trials and eventual settlements like this one all ADD to the cost of the drugs being sold in the market place, I'm not sure what, exactly, it is we're accomplishing. Pick one folks cuz clearly the way we're doin' it now isn't working.

Puerto Rico *is* "our OWN country". Alaska and Hawaii aren't part of the US mainland. Does that mean we shouldn't send any jobs there?

To be clear. What GSK's charged with is pretty appalling, but that's no reason for an outburst of xenophobia.

...Another example of what deregulation and cheap labor gets you, same thing happened with China's manufacturing of digoxin and blood thinner Heperin...........Guess all that matters is the bottom line...(republican slogan)

What happens with Dumpocrap taxes and OVER regulation you liberal fool!

And since I'm on a tad bit of a rant here ...

"The government also claimed that some drugs were contaminated with micro-organisms, including an ointment used to treat skin infections in small children and an injectable drug for treating nausea in patients undergoing chemotherapy."

How many deaths were involved?

Welcome to the unethical world of Big Pharma, where paying off and wining and dining physicians, appointing "expert" physicians to drug-promoting speakers boards for big kickbacks and big conflicts of interest, and off-label use of drugs are the norm. Where half-baked and ill-devised clinical trials in 3rd world countries cover up a trail of misery and death. Where drugs to treat male pattern baldness and impotence are promoted, developed, and marketed at the expense of life-saving cancer drugs, and dangerous side effects such as cardiac events are swept under the rug. Where the best and brightest senior R&D scientists are laid off and fired in order to hire a burgeoning army of smarmy, well-tanned, male and female cheerleaders with marketing experience to serve as sales reps to accomplish the aforementioned wining and dining of physicians and pander the latest drugs in the company pipeline before their patent expires and the generics companies gets hold of them.

GSK is probably not one of the worst offenders.... try digging into Pfizer's record sometime, and you will see how evil big Pharma can get.

http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=330

http://buzzlightyear2.newsvine.com/_news/2010/04/07/4128284-feds-found-pfizer-too-big-to-nail-bextra-cnncom

If you don't take prescription drugs, what to do you take if you step on a nail? Or is you get pneumonia? or an infection? Or have to have surgery?

Good Luck!

The reason all those scary side effects are listed is because of ambulance chasing rial lawyers. If the effects were of a significantly high rate, the drugs would not have been approved by the FDA. The pharmaceutical companies have to cover worst case scenarios on the off chance some patient might have a bad reaction. Been that way for several years, now.

mark...........Tighter regulations and enforcement is called for also...........But then again, it that is done republicans say it will cost jobs.....lol

If the government were run efficiently, it could be smaller than it is and still provide much better management than it currently does.

What an IDIOTIC comment. Hey brainiac liberal the FDA is very understaffed and underfunded and I would know. And by the way, big government is absolutely not the way to go but I have know doubt you couldn't buy a clue if you had 5 dollars. Incredible!!!!!!!!

Hey brainiac liberal the FDA is very understaffed and underfunded and I would know. And by the way, big government is absolutely not the way to go but I have know doubt you couldn't buy a clue if you had 5 dollars.

You are such a fool, DMAC. First you ridicule a liberal for promoting more oversight then you state the FDA is understaffed and underfunded.

Then you say, "I would know" which leads us to believe you work there. Or is that not the truth?

You offer NOTHING as a solution.

I'm afraid that as usual, the answer will be "not us" (those that were hurt).

If they even get fined, it will go to the courts/government, but the 'little guy' has to be able to afford to sue or file a class action suit to get their 'share' to cover their damages.

I agree that the article left out a lot of important information, as well - Not the least of which was a list of drugs effected by this.

For the most part you are incorrect, generic medications are almost always as effictive as the brand name product.

And one more thing, the drugs mentioned in the article are brand name drugs. Often the same companies manufacture the brand and generic versions as well. Branding, and the idea that Brand names equal quality are tools used by manufacturers to keep prices higher and pay for the high cost of advertising and marketing while maintaining profit margins. Generic versus non-generic was not the issue here.

Is GSK a manufacturer of generics? I thought they were a pretty big brand name, like Pfizer.

We are not talking about generics here. These are brand name meds. I am a Quality Manager in the drug/biotech industry, and the fact is that any drug plant (US or ex-US) is bound by numerous regulations and must have a full Quality System (according to the Code of Federal Regulations, parts 210 and 211) that puts safeguards in place to prevent such errors. The real question is "did they knowingly pass through unacceptable product or just not have the proper procedures in place to catch the problems?". The fact that the whistleblower was an ex-quality manager at the plant says to me that at least some management knew what the hell was going on and chose to cover up or ignore the problems.

And by the way, all generics are also bound by the same set of regulations as the brand name drugs. It may not say much, but a generic is also approved by the FDA and is not inferior to brand name meds.

The prescripts being discussed are not being manufactured by some generic third world company. They're US made, and US FDA blessed. Most meds we pay huge prices for in this country are being offered by very reliable companies, or even the same company as in the US, at a fraction of the charge to Mr. and Mrs. America. To think the quality of product is better or safer in this country because we have the FDA working for "us" is not true. The rest of the world is doing just fine thank you very much without our version of corporate owned FDA and patent protections.

We used to have a great generic drug manufacturer right in the area where I live. They got beaten down by Big Pharma and had to sell finally. Over 1000 people out of work and the same prescription I got for $10.00 now costs $90.00...and without my prescription insurance it would cost over $200.00. And the generic worked better!!

I don't care what anyone says the name brand medications work better and it's not only the name brand but even different mfgs. use different sdtuff in their product. I have personally compared them on a monthly basis, I took one of meds name brand vs. generic more often than not there is a difference. But the biggest surprise was the different effects that occured using different generic mfgs, and one on the mfgs product clearly worked better.

I've tried many brand names vs. generics in my life, and brand names are almost always better, longer lasting, and fewer side effects by a very appreciable margin on average.

The reason for this is that generic companies are not given the full formula to copy, but rather they are allowed access to the molecular blueprint for the active ingredient only. Sometimes, the original company produces a cheap 'dumbed-down" version (that is not as effective) as a generic form to sell once their initial patent expires as a means to get continued revenue off the same product line. They do not have to disclose the processes that refines the drug to have fewer side effects, be more effective, palatable, or even productive to outside companies.

These cases, however, are mostly for long term "maintenance" type drugs created more for profit then to help people. Business is about making money, after all. The problem is that all too often the risks of the treatment far outweigh the condition they are supposed to be fixing. The companies see a rich money-source from a long-term-customer-market and try to patent anything that claims to 'fix' it to make a profit, often rushing through or even skipping FDA procedures to do so.

On top of that, even when they loose cases like these, it's a drop in the bucket to all the profits they made off those poor souls. As the system stands, there is no reason for them to ever change, either.

yeah compared to what they have made selling these bogus drugs it's not even a good tip.

They do receive a portion of it.

My question is...would the whistleblower have come forward if she had not been fired ?

Probably not, however, I'm sure the payout was worth her time. Why wasn't she blowing the whistle while she still WORKED for the company ? Obviously she was aware.

The sad truth is that those injured people have to have the money and enough health/strength left to sue them (assuming they didn't die from it). This settlement will only open the door for those hurt to TRY and sue. There is no guarantee of anything going to those actually hurt.

It's almost funny how 'Big Pham' pays off the 'Big Gov' to look the other way, and when they get caught, Big Gov 'fines" them more money. Both times guess who got paid ...and who ultimately paid for it?

Actually, that is exactly correct! It was this (Obama's) Administration's Justice Department that nailed these GOP-protected and coddled thieves!

Dummy boy,

GOP protected, please show us some facts bogus boy, you are a libtard. If you or one of your spawn got sick, you would be banging down their doors for freebies you taker.

Why are so many of you on the rabid right, as opposed to normal conservative people, so abusive and, seemingly, so ignorant?

Like Dennis baseless accusation that Republicans had something to do with this ISN'T abusive and ignorant?

Fairly selective in your criticism, aren't you, Rick.

And by the way, POTUScare will have no effect on this at all, NONE. POTUS negotiated an $80 billion price give back from pharma in exchange for their continued monopoly on the American consumer via import restrictions and patent protections, and pharma promptly raised their prices an average of 9%.

But yes, you keep telling yourself that POTUS is the second coming and he is on your side. Maybe the two of you can go for a unicorn ride together someday.