An Ethical Examination Abbott And The Pharmaceutical Industry Commerce Essay

An Ethical Examination abbott And The Pharmaceutical industry Commerce EssayDespite the pharmaceutic industry having notable contri only whenions to society, including the search and development of the oxycontin to relief tribes pain, at that place has been some(prenominal)(prenominal) good problems that arose. The industry has the patent growth and lots of throng abuse the medicate. It was thought of as an unethical issue from the abbott case and companies producing oxycontin to get benefits. Some companies as well as return physicians to prescribe their drugs. Whereas, oxycontin is the best drug to release pain and pharmaceutical industry and it is precise beneficial to economy.This report exit examine the varied aspects pertaining to the topic of Ethics of the Pharmaceutical Industry. On overview of history, development, and value chain of the Canadian pharmaceutical industry leave behind be discussed. Then, the PEST analysis of Abbott is being talked. The essent ial sh atomic number 18holder groups of interest ar on discourse in details. The approval process for fresh drugs, the potential over-medication of societies and the role of pharmaceutical companies are described. Meanwhile, the economic and genial impacts of the labor and diffusion of Oxycod hotshot from the following perspectives will be analyzed 1. Utilitarianism 2. Rights 3. Justice 4. Virtue Ethics. This report concludes with the issue management approach demonstrated by the Canadian judicature and Carrolls four part corporate hearty responsibility renderings, and which is from the perspectives of economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic. Corporate social actances, such as auditing, reporting, communication should be recorded in price of making the management greet the problems or updates within the lower directs of management to appoint effective policies. give in of Context intromission...pg .4Part 1History Development..pg.4Value Chainpg.5Comprehensive syno psis of the Industry..pg.7Part 2Pest analysis for Abbott..pg.9Six Main Stakeholders Interests....pg.12Part 3The out raise signal and use of Oxycodone..pg.15Drug patents..pg.16The approval process for sunrise(prenominal) drugs..pg.17The potential over-medication of societies and the role of pharmaceutical companiespg.18Part 4Utilitarianismpg.19Rights.pg.21Justice ...pg.22Virtue Ethics.pg.24Part 5Corporate loving Responsibility, Corporate Social Responsiveness,Corporte Social Performance.pg.25Conclusionpg.28Referencespg.29Appendix A...pg.32Appendix B...pg.33Appendix Cpg 35IntroductionCanadians on average spend 31 billion dollars in the pharmaceutical industry, which grooms it very powerful and influential. Our finishing is to analyze the industry in a business ethics perspective. To do this we will look at the value chain and development of the pharmaceutical industry in Canada, a PEST analysis of Abbott, the ethical issues linked to the use and overmedication of oxycodone as wel l as the drug patent system, the social and economic impacts of the growthion of oxycodone, and addressing the industries record in corporate social performance, responsibility, and responsiveness.Part 1 History DevelopmentHave you forever wondered how master(prenominal) pharmaceutical companies are to society? How did the pharmaceutical industry begin in Canada? These question and much will be answered in this segment. The first major pharmaceutical unlessiance in Canada started in Toronto in the year 1879 and was founded by Edward B. Shuttleworth (Toronto Region discriminatek Alliance, 2010). Toronto has developed through with(predicate) and through the years as one of the leadership in this industry in North America. Toronto Region Research Alliance reports that Twenty-five of the top 50 global pharmaceutical companies support Canadian headquarters in the Toronto Region. (Toronto Region Research Alliance, 2010).It is enkindle to k straight off that the first foreign -owned pharmaceutical company in Canada started here in Windsor, Walkerville by Parke Davis and Co in 1887 (Lexchin, 2006). This decision by Mr. Davis helped develop Canadas pharmaceutical industry.From 1879 to present the pharmaceutical industry has advanced substantially. Conferring to the Canadian Encyclopedia in the 1940s our pharmaceutical industry was producing a large amount of drugs business likely (economy to scales) (Lexchin,2006). This was a huge cash advance in the industry because now companies were able to focus on mass producing drugs, and able to establish a larger profit margin on it. Also conferring to the Canadian Encyclopedia in the 1970s and 1980s, Canada started to fetch their own generic drug companies (Lexchin, 2006).In 1921, the University of Toronto developed several drugs that transformed the way diabetes is treated. This drug contains Insulin that has rescue an enormous amount of deal and helped reduce the suffering for those with diabetes.Patents came a long way in this industry. Patents acts alike(p) a copyright not allowing people to copy your idea. Patents life span is currently 17 years. In the past companies that had a patent on their product had a monopoly type of power. After menu C-22 companies do not be possessed of this power on a patent, we will discuss this topic later.Part 1 Value ChainResearch and DevelopmentIn Canada before a drug tail end be authorized for the general public it has to go through several tests and studies. These drugs will be tested on animals and eventually on populace. The researcher goal is try to discover a product the public will use. Once the researcher had thought of a drug that will help people the researcher and the scientist halt to develop the product. They will develop their product by exam it on animals and alter it till they sustain desirable final results. It takes about eight and a half years to test the drug and get it approve to sell (Health Canada, 2011).Pre-clinic al ResearchIn order to reach this step a company subscribe tos to march on data that helps them prove their drug is safe for pre-clinical testing. Pre-clinical testing is when a company tests their drugs in a research lab on animals. They are looking at a variety of factors such as the animal toxics level and pharmacologic affects (Health Canada, 2011). check to Health Canada at this stage sponsors are asked to de end pointine the toxicity of the drug in at least two species of animals, from 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on the proposed duration of use of the substance (Health Canada, 2011).clinical TrialAt this stage the drug is deemed safe to test it on humans. During these trials, a substance is administered to humans and is evaluated for its safety and effectiveness in treating, preventing, or diagnosing a specific disorder or condition. The results of this testing is the single around important factor in the approval or disapproval of a new(a) drug (Health Canada, 2011) . If the results of the clinical trial turn out to be positive, the drug is ready to hit the marketplaces.A New Drug Submission (NDS) is sent with complete information on the new drug at the end of the clinical testing. If the NDS are positive the company is allowed to sell their drug in Canada (Lexchin, 2006).Manufacture, Marketing and salesAt this final stage the pharmaceutical companies looks for ways to reduce the greets of drug production. Companys consider to oblige sure they mother the right paperwork to start manufacturing the product. Also the company needs to make sure they market the product well and honestly. The company alike needs to make sure that they are constantly supervise their products making sure its safe and safely distributed.Part 1 Comprehensive Analysis of the IndustryResearch cost the Canadian pharmaceutical industry millions of dollars annually. The research cost is eminent because drug companies are severe to develop give-and-takes for varie ty of types of diseases and illness. Usually the companys purpose on inventing a new treatment is to gain upcoming revenues.It is currently estimated to cost about eight hundred million dollars to research and market a new drug (Canadian Pharmacists Association, 2012). Canada develops eighty new drugs a year and only ten percentage of these new drugs have signifi kindlet improvements over existing drugs (Lexchin, 2006)Unlike new(prenominal) industries the pharmaceutical industry has a high cost on research and development. The industry spends millions of dollars, inventing new drugs, and develops existing drugs. Companies in this industry spend millions of dollars on pot and educating people about their product. With high costs and short patent life is it worth it to companies to spend a significant amount of money on growth their product just to be copied by other company in the future?Thinking that the cost of developing a drug is extremely high the government should help t he pharmaceutical industry in this aspect. Instead of helping in 1987 Brain Mulroney introduced Bill C-22. Through the Bill the Patented Medicine Prices Review climb on was created. Their job is to watch over and make the price of the patented drugs. At one point this company raised the price of patents that in some situations the company would have no choice and give up their patent. One thing that was not light for the companies who develop the product was they were forced to licensing their product. Other companies were allowed to produce their product and pay a royalty payment to the founder company. The problem is the royalty fees are very minimal considering how much startup costs the excogitation company had to go through.A huge issue about Bill C-22 coming into effect is it took away incentive to do research and create new drugs. Companies are worried about producing their product as cheaply and efficiently as possible to increase their profit margin. Patented Medicine Prices Review Board requires 10 percent of a companys revenues. In 2007 only 8.3 percent was spend on research in this industry (Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association, N.D.). In Appendix C shows the user where the research money was spent. It interesting to note the majority of the research money was spent in applied research. Applied Research is use on trying to improve the product and the manufacturing process.The government has another impact on this industry through their policies. The federal government implemented their nourishment and Drug minute in 1939. This act gave the government some power over this industry. The Federal government decided they needed the companies in the industry to report to Food and Drug Directorate (1959) (Lexchin, 2006). This organization monitors the industry to make sure everyone is following the rules. This Food and Drug Act has been modified throughout the years because of past events. An deterrent example is in 1963, 115 kids were bo rn with malformations of the limbs because their mothers took thalidomide (Lexchin, 2006). Standards in this industry after this event and companies moldiness inform their users who cannot take the drug. This act prohibits false advertising, but it cannot control how the doctors rattling use the drugs (Lexchin, 2006).Part 2 Pest analysis for AbbottAccording to the Cambridge Dictionary pest analysis is (political, economic, social, and technological) assesses a market including competitors, from the standpoint of a particular pro model or a business. A management method that examines the effect that events or influences from outside may have on the performance of a company or organization. (PEST Analysis)PoliticalAbbott labs and its competitors are all seriously affected by government regulations. For example, they include long term challenges like patent expiration and FDA approval. All these rules and regulations are affected by political factors. Under the Medi explosive charge modernization Act, drug prices are negotiated between private drug plans and private drug manufactures which prohibits government to set up a price structure or even participate in the negotiations. The Congress and white manse are trying to lower drug prices, which could decrease revenue for Abbott. If Abbott is forced to lower its drug prices, it would be hit hard as half of the revenue it generates comes from pharmaceuticals. (Abbott laboratories Stock, 2006)The development, sale and distribution of Abbotts products are subjected to a vast set of rules and regulations. These regulatory actions can result in delay of the release of the product or exaltation or recall of products. Violations of these rules may be punishable by civil or criminal sanctions. In some cases there are payable fines, imprisonment or even exclusion from participation in wellness apprehension programs. These regulations are very broad in scope and are subjected to umpteen developing interpretations, w hich could require Abbott to gain significant costs associated with altering one or more of its marketing or sales practices. Moreover, if these laws are violated, Abbott could disturb its business. This would not only affect Abbotts revenues and profitability but would also result in a negative image of Abbott. (Abbott laboratories filings, 2006)EconomicsAbbott produces a drug called Humira. This is used for rheumatoid arthritis longanimous ofs. This is one of the important revenue generator drugs, which makes up more than half of the pharmaceutical divisions revenue. Niaspan, another drug produced by Abbott, is the only drug available in the market to decrease cardiovascular risk. This drug increases HDL also known as good cholesterol to minimize the risk. Another popular drug produced by Abbot was Depakote. Abbott lost much of its revenue in 2008 because of generic disceptation, for the first time. Generic competition in Abbotts pharmaceutical division hurt US sales however t his has been partially offset by international growth. (Abbott Laboratories Stock, 2006) emerge markets represents one of the greatest opportunities in health care. Emerging markets already make up more than 20 percent of Abbotts overall business. Abbott Laboratories Inc will pay $3.7 billion to acquire the branded generics business of Indias Piramal healthcare. Annual payments of $ cd million would be made till four years for Piramals healthcare solutions business. Moreover, it will also pay $2.12 billion up-front. According to Abbott, it will have the largest market share in India, at seven percent. According to Mr. White, the chairman and chief executive of Abbott, this deal is one of the several he has taken to reshape the company and grow outside the United States. Abbott predicts the sales in India to be more than $2.5 billion by 2020. Abbott is gainful 8.7 times annual sales for the Piamal unit. By contrast, Cipla trades at 4.5 times sales.Abbott is rapidly establishing a le adership position in branded generics and emerging markets (Abbott Laboratories to pay $1.6 billion, 2010) said Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen in a research note.SocialAbbott is a constantly changing health care industry. So, for a company like this, market share is a primary focus. Market share can be gained by increasing a demand for the medicines or off course by introducing new and improved medicines. Abbotts toughest competition includes generic drugs and this has put a lot of pressure on pharmaceutical industries as a whole. Moreover patent infringement is another challenge. Medtronic Inc. said on Monday it would pay $400 million to Abbott Laboratories Inc. as part of an agreement to turn up a legal dispute over heart stent technology. (Kelly, 2009)Abbotts produces drugs such as Humira, Xience V and Niaspan. These drugs are set about by constant competition from many other pharmaceutical companies such as Johnson Johnson (JNJ) and Amegen (AMGN). A competition like thi s makes it very challenging for Abbott to deal with legal problemsAbbot is a company which fulfills its social responsibilities. It operates with many applicable laws and regulations concerning environmental protection. Abbott believes that it has a social and environmental responsibility towards the community where it operates. For example, Abbotts capital expenditure in 2010 was $9 million and run expenditures in 2010 for pollution control was approximately $65 million. Capital and operating expenditures in 2011 for pollution control were estimated to be $15 million and $67 million respectively. (Abbott Laboratories Filings, 2006)Abbott has been identified as a responsible party in investigations at many locations in the United States of America by Superfund. Abbott believes that costs related to investigations and remediation and costs which help the company to follow the social rules and regulations, have no consequences on Abbotts financial position, results of operation or ca sh flows. (Abbott Laboratories Filings, 2006)TechnologicalProducing new products over time is how a firm proficiencyes. This requires technological knowledge, the ability to combine knowledge elements into valuable new products, and the complementary assets that facilitate the manufacturing, sales, and distribution of those products. (Nerkar, 2004)Abbott is the first pharmaceutical company to have a special laboratory for radioactive pharmaceuticals or radiopharmaceuticals. This progress leads to the creation of what will become the worlds leading immunodiagnostics business. (History Abbott) After Abbott introduces Selsun Suspension shampoo for dandruff control, the company establishes an employee contributory derivation purchase plan to benefit its employees. Several major products are introduced worldwide, including a test to screen and monitor therapy for prostate cancer, self-test kit for HIV and many more.Part 2 Six Main Stakeholders InterestsAbbots customers are a stakeholde r and their main interest is the availability of products that are safe and effective. They look for a price that is reasonable and affordable. They need as much information about the disease as possible and the ways to prevent it through drugs and available treatment. They also look for advocacy for patient needs and support for patient organizations. Health care professionals are also the stakeholders and their main concern is quality, safety and efficiency of products and close to importantly proper product use. Information and education about the latest tools and technologies is also an interest of this stakeholder. Research and development is another break interest of this group. Interestingly, reasonable and ethical behavior is also an interest to the health care professionals which can be achieved through ethical marketing practices.Government is another stakeholder of Abbot. Affordable pricing and ethical business practices is this groups main concern. Government makes a partnership to help address health care needs. Government and Abbot unitedly make policies that boost access to medicines and vaccines. Moreover, Employees are another stakeholder group and its main interest is to get fosterage and development. They also want to get involved in their communities and most importantly they want to improve and hold up their own health and well-being.Local communities are another important stakeholder group. Their main interest is that Abbot operates in a responsible and safe manner, wherever it operates. Philanthropic commitment to unmet community needs is another concern. Lastly, suppliers are another stakeholder group. Ethics, labor laws and health and safety issues are this stakeholders primary interest. Support for small and diverse suppliers is also a get wind interest.Abbot is committed to developing safe and effective medicines that save and enhance lives. Abbot aims to make its products at affordable and fair prices and to offer low cost o r even free people options for customers, when possible. For example Abbot was engaged in discussions with patients group and associations. It was also involved with customer care lines, patient assistance programs and market research. This resulted in gaining important insight as to how Abbot could improve their products and develop new ones. They increased sensation among stakeholder groups of potentials for patient assistance for medicines and of contributions of drugs and other products as part of tragedy relief. Abbott is increasing awareness among the stakeholders and proving a lot of its products as part of disaster relief.Abbot seeks new insight into patient and consumer needs and is committed to leveraging these insights into meaningful products. Moreover, health care professionals play a key role in proper diagnosis treatment and rehabilitation, and work closely to create a greater understanding of disease states and its treatment. Abbott also helps to maintain high stand ards of integrity in all of its dealings with health care professionals. An example of this is Abbotts educational program for health care professionals. And also the technological exchanges to bolster knowledge of health care professionals. The result of these efforts was improved understandings of emerging challenges on the front lines of health care. Abbott received feedback on the quality, safety and efficacy of existing products and partner with health care professionals conducting vital research. (Abbott Global Citizenship)Government being a key stakeholder wants affordable prices and ethical business practices. So, Abbot aims to make products available at affordable prices. They want to foster well informed health care professionals, progressive policies and enhanced infrastructure, which are very important to health care access. In addition to that, Abbott holds all their employees to the maximum ethical standards. Abbott has worked with the governments to set prices at reas onable levels. They have talked with governments about major health care policy developments. Abbot has participated in numerous U.S. and international trade groups, consistent with the guidelines in Abbotts code of business conduct. (Abbott Global Citizenship) It has shared learning on needs of assorted communities. Furthermore, it has given updates on major health care policy developments.Local communities are another important stakeholder. Their key concerns are safe and responsible operations where Abbott operates. Abbott gives full attention to its local communities. They have fully engaged in the communities where they operate, and they treaty their local societies with admiration. Abbott engages in thoughtful and effective philanthropy. (Abbott Global Citizenship) Moreover, Abbott employs local people and pays taxes to the local governments. They support educational efforts, cultural and civic programs and community health care organizations. An example can be seen when Abb ott in 2011, paid 1.8 billion in income taxes. Abbott maintains strong relationships with the communities where they operate.Part 3 The Production and spend of OxycodoneAt the end of February 2012 Pur receivable Pharma Canada, the company behind oxycontin, stopped production of their popular narcotic and locomote to a new painkiller opiate in the oxycodone family called Oxyneo. Oxyneo is an amazing step up from oxycontin because it is made in a way so that it cannot be dis adjudicated in water to be injected (it turns into a gel if you try), and it is very difficult to ground up and snort. These changes do not affected people taking the drug by rights for medical uses but thats only four out of every12,000 addicts. These people taking oxycontin for the highs have moved on to harder drugs to fill the hole oxycontin left. A recent statistic from Alex Crees of Fox news states the percentage of people who reported employ Oxycontin to get high in the past 30 days at least once cut d own from 47.4 percent to 30 percent. During the same time stop, the percentage of people who reported using heroin virtually doubled. (Crees) This raises a lot of ethical questions one of which has to do with utilitarianism, how can this move possible benefit the most people when the majority is the one being moved onto harder drugs? This of course raises questions of its own such as if it was so dangerous why was it introduced in the first place, and to that I can simply say no other medication can do what it can do. For a lot of people dealing with chronic clear-sighted pain there are very few options available and oxycodone is an attractive alternative to the also opiate ground morphine which causes nausea and is half as strong as oxycodone. In the end of the day for the involvement of utilitarianism I would say they probably did the right thing by changing the formula but it is all based on perspectives. Another ethical issue that has to do with the lack of corporate social responsibility of Purdue, one moral argument for CSR is that Corporations cause social problems, and hence have a responsibility to solve those they have caused and to prevent further social problems from arising. (Crane p. 51) with this statement we can see that Purdue caused a problem and did not really take responsibility for that problem or overly try to prevent it as well. It was the government that forced the cancelation of distribution of oxycontin, not the good will of the corporation, and it was also government regulation demanding the new formula. Purdue should have set up public centers to help deal with the people who were using their product and are now dealing with withdrawals. They had ethical responsibility they did not live up to.Part 3 Drug PatentsIn the realm of medical or drug patenting there is also a slew of ethical problems that must be dealt with. In our modern patenting system it is too easy for procedures or medications to be unavailable to those who need them because of issues with patents. A lot of procedures require the doctor or physician have bought the right to use the procedures and only in a certain way. These are often sold only in smaller quantities for higher(prenominal) prices limiting the amount of good they can do. The ethical problem arises when a person comes in for treatment and a patented procedure becomes unavailable to patients who require it, and in worst-case scenarios where no other alternative exists. In a case like this utilitarianism must be questioned as to why they can justify infliction so many people so a few at the top can make a lot more money. Distributive rightness is also an ethical issue that relates to this. Some people will argue that due to distributive jurist patents are ethical because the framework of distributive justice rewards the inventor and people cant coast on his success. However if we look at it by its definition distributive justice is concerns the nature of asocially justallocati on ofgoodsin a society. (Distributive justice Wikipedia) We can see that by having these patents that limit the availability of processes and medications people need were are heading in the opposite way of distributive justice, fewer people are get benefit of a product. In this way I really believe that the patent system especially pertaining to drugs has a very pre stodgy thought process of what can help me Ill do. They have all this knowledge that could help millions but because there is no immediate monetary benefit for the corporations to open up the patents to everyone in need it fashion happen and many innocent people could get sick, get worse, or even die.Part 3 The Approval Process For New DrugsTo understand the ethical issues in improvement process for new drugs you must first understand how the process plays out. There are 4 main steps to the process of getting a pill tested and okayed for sales, the first step is to test on animals, then the next is to perform clinica l testing on humans, next up is a review by the food and drug administration, and the last step is post marketing surveillance. In this last step the pill has been granted contain application by the FDA and is applied to thousands of people for testing. At this stage it is not determined if the pill is either safe or efficacious. (Kuncl Logue, 2005). Patents last 17 years and this four-step process takes about 11 years so you can understand the urgency of their actions. The unethical behavior comes in on the fourth step where it is in the hands of marketing surveillance because the importance they determine for the drug is the chances of it actually coming to store shelves. You see a new pill would cost about $800 million dollars not counting the 15-year research period so they are very valuable and only explored if the chances are high for payback. Ten to fifteen percent of all gross profits from a pharmaceutical company go back into research. Because of these high costs of busi ness a lot of pills that could help a lot of people but not plentiful to turn a profit are often declined or have their funding stopped which can leave innocent people without a cure. The ethical problem here is the industry doesnt practice stakeholder surmisal at all, they are acting to just appease the shareholders but not the other stakeholders like the consumers that could have their lives saved, the employees whos families could have needed those medicines, the government that may have rewarded you for coming up with a cheaper more efficient drug and the list of stakeholders goes on.Part 3 The Potential Over-Medication of Societies and the Role of Pharmaceutical CompaniesSeven million people say they use prescription drugs for non-medial reasons and 39% of drug user use prescriptions over street drugs like cocaine and heroin so why are we seeing this trend? I believe it is due to aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical industries, for reasons previously discussed there is a lo t of money spent in the industry just to get new drugs approved, and thats reasonable that they want to market it and spread the enunciate to make back their loss. However the way they go about doing it is unethical and wrong, you see when these new drugs are released they are often released under a wider umbrella of uses than first clinically intended. The unfortunate reality is that for most new drugs, safety and efficacy are scientifically proven for only a small subset of patient