Does pharma deserve its greedy reputation, and how can it repair it?

By Guy Martin

Stories about the pharmaceutical industry which have made headline news in recent months have not done the sector’s reputation any favors.

That is nothing new, of course, but taking a look at some of the issues covered in the mainstream media since the fall begs the question of whether the drugmaking business has ever been dragged through the mud to this extent. Allegations of price-fixing and of attempting to delay the entry of generics to the market give an impression of an industry that puts profits before patient needs.