Dear GlaxoSmithKline

An open video letter to my pals in the pharm business. Keep on chasing that rainbow!

**HINT**
that is the sound of the glass clinking around on the plate because of my awesome hand tremors. thx.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• glaxosmithkline
• pharmaceuticals
• gsk
• antidepressant
• wellbutrin
• medication
• side
• effects
• bupropion
• prescription
• tremors

[fullofkrap]

"im sure u could find a study" --i did look. youtube doesn't allow URLs in comments, that's why i said to google "pharmaceutical profit." they spend twice as much on marketing as they do on research. it is documented. in 2007 the salary of pfizer's ceo was $12.6 million. and he was only the 10th highest paid pharma exec that year.

[socut123]

this all cost's the company plenty. so sure there drug may be somewhat pricey, but the company only makes a reasonable amount for itself and its employee's. dont make them out like car company's. do u know how much it costs in raw materials and labor to make a car? about $2000 at least, some less. yet a new car, say a honda civic runs $15,000 to $25,000. thats a 1200% profit at most. u will NEVER c that in a company like GSK. maybe u should look at this in company's that dont look 2 help u.

[fullofkrap]

Google "pharmaceutical profit". It's well documented that pharma has a huge profit margin as compared to other fortune 500 companies. In fact they spend twice as much on marketing as they do on research. If they're so concerned about helping people, then why aren't they not-for-profit orgs? They are about MAKING MONEY first and foremost. Meds do help people, and that's WHY they can gouge those who have no choice but to buy the meds to live. My depression paid for your Nintendo. You're welcome.

[socut123]

true. but for the research they do they hav to make money. if someone wasnt there to make a good drug, one thats up to date and invented to HELP, not HURT. they could sell u a placebo that does nothing but no, they give you a high quality drug. and sure u might hav to pay for it, but i'd hope that if u hav insurance they'd hav u covered

[fullofkrap]

Profit margin on Rx drugs is ENORMOUS. Pharm companies fight to delay FDA approval of generics as long as possible. Many insurance companies won't cover meds that don't have a generic equivalent, and 47 million Americans are not insured in the first place. Out of pocket, Wellbutrin XL 300mg costs $180 per month--and that is even at CostCo. This is just one of many reasons pharm companies like GSK need serious calling-out. I'd be fine with them making a living off me if they grew a conscience.

[socut123]

and good point Civicfox. which would u rather hav, tremors or manic episodes? be grateful companies exist to help improve ur life. if its so bad, y dont u just get off the Drug? NO? then stop complaining and bitching. ur style of life is improved, just be grateful for christ sakes

[fullofkrap]

you make a lot of assumptions, like that i still take wellbutrin, that i thought it was bad, or that my style of life was improved. none of that is necessarily true.

furthermore, i don't see why i should be "grateful" to a company for selling me a product. i don't write thank-you notes to the supermarket for selling me an apple. they're not doing me any special favors. i pay them money! i'm sure your dad's a super guy and all, but don't pretend that pharm companies aren't about making money.

[surfaussiensw]

the way it works is that they have to make their profit on that specific drug during the time that it has a remaining patent, and by the time the drug even hits the market that patent might be several years old. Once the patents up the generic brands come in for much cheaper and the compony wont make the money back any longer.

[socut123]

true they make a large profit. but how quickly do non-profit org's get to were they want to be? large profit and high prices are somewat of a Nesacary Evil with companies like GSK. once again research and development is a very expensive process. i do not hav numbers for u, but im sure u could find a study that proves that yes, GSK makes more than it loses, but not to the extent u are suggesting. a significant amount of profit, %50 or more is spent on researching new drugs

[socut123]

so your saying the research and development process and the expensive blend of drugs in those pills is'nt worth the price? development of drugs as "simple" as those still costs millions. for patents, research, ad capaigns, not to mention the payment made to Pharm Reps. and what about research for more complex treatments like Bexxar? this drug easily saves hundreds of lives a year. surely it cost a fortune to make. hundreds of millions on trials, on failures and on testing.