Can a pharma company change? Profit, not altruism, motivates COVID-19 vaccine development
Can a pharma company change? Profit, not altruism, motivates COVID-19 vaccine development
By Joel Lexchin
Health Canada announced its approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 9. Earlier, the news that the same vaccine was on the way in the United Kingdom — and that others are not far behind — was a relief to people all over the world, or at least those in developed countries that can afford the vaccine.
The arrival of the vaccine also seems to have boosted public approval for the pharmaceutical industry. Globally, the industry’s “trust and like score” grew to over 68 per cent of people surveyed in 2020 from 65 per cent in 2018.
The bump in the industry’s score was probably helped by the September joint pledge from nine companies that they would “stand with science” and not try to get a vaccine approved until it had been thoroughly tested for efficacy and safety. This statement was widely seen as the companies standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump, who was making promises about an “October surprise” in a bid to enhance his re-election chances.
Can a drug company change? The evidence is not clear cut.
Comments (0)