That High Design of Purest Gold: A Critical History of the Pharmaceutical Industry, 1880-2020
Synopsis "That High Design of Purest Gold: A Critical History of the Pharmaceutical Industry, 1880-2020"
This book is a history of medicines and the commercial actors that make and sell them, covering the 140 years since the modern pharmaceutical industry came into being. It is written in a lively and accessible way, aiming at a general audience that combines historical narrative with fascinating case studies on drug discovery and commercialization, from the rat poison that became warfarin, to a cardiovascular treatment that was turned into Viagra. In a non-partisan way it also examines some of the less noble manifestations of corporate behavior, concluding with an agenda for reform. It is hard to think of anything nobler than to bring to the world a medicine that saves lives. And over 140 years of history, the pharmaceutical industry has produced a range of remarkable products, albeit typically with external scientific and financial support. Making medicines is a very big and profit-driven business, and the industry does not always make the right products for the right people, or at the right prices. The industry wields immense power over lives and economies. How has it risen to this position of dominance? Are the interests of the industry and the public in balance? What should we admire about the industry? What should we criticise and seek to change? The importance of this book lies in the fact that we are all stakeholders in this industry whether or not we own shares, so we all need answers to these questions. Readership: The educated general public; students and academics in law and medicine (especially business law, regulation, and intellectual property), business studies and economics (especially those interested in pharmaceutical and biotechnology businesses), and various history sub-disciplines (history and philosophy of science, history of medicine, business history); biologists, life scientists, and biotechnologists in public and private sectors; medical practitioners interested in the legal, commercial and social science aspects of their work; and those concerned with access to medicines.
