Page 8 - Pharma eZine 140828

Balancing profitability with patient

protection: An ethical dilemma

Prescripion drugs are even called ethical drugs in
Philipp Aeby is CEO of RepRisk AG. Before My book is a icional thriller, but it is based on
joining RepRisk in 2006, he served in various a real story I came across while working on a the United States. I love that term. I think it really

managerial posiions at biotech company Amgen global markeing case in the US. The company I’m says a lot.
and worked on a broad range of internaional talking about - I won’t menion any names - knew

assignments with the Boston Consuling Group. it was selling a drug that would have some very NN: As of March 2014, the pharmaceuical
Philipp is also the author of the corporate serious side-efects when taken in combinaion industry was one of the top ive most

thriller, Kolumbianische Scheidung, which with other drugs. I mean very serious side efects. controversial sectors in RepRisk. At the same
explores the pracical quesions of ethics in But nobody took any acion and it was deinitely a ime, pharmaceuical companies are oten

the pharmaceuical industry. Philipp spoke to source of inspiraion for my book.
championed as being in a unique posiion to
RepRisk Senior Analyst Nicole Neghaiwi about improve the health and welfare of people around

his experiences with environmental, social and NN: Is that why you decided to move into ESG? the world. Why do you think this sector has been
governance (ESG) issues in the pharmaceuical such a polarizing force?

industry.
PA: As a climatologist, I was always interested

in the environment. But of course I frequently
PA: Personally I have a very strong opinion
Nicole Neghaiwi (NN): In 2009, you published a encountered ethical quesions while working in
about this that my former colleagues in the

icional thriller about drug tesing in Colombia. the pharmaceuical industry, and this intrigued
pharmaceuical industry won’t necessarily agree
What inspired you to write Kolombianische me. I do think there is a strong link between the
with in public. I believe that the fundamental

Scheidung?
pharmaceuical industry and ethics - simply based
mistake pharmaceuical companies make from a
on the fact that - to quote the slogan of my former
public relaions perspecive is that they claim to

Philipp Aeby (PA): I personally stumbled across employer - it drasically impacts our lives. No
focus on paients’ needs while they are and should
the quesion of ethics when I was working as a other industry has that kind of power over life and
be commercial operaions. This isn’t a bad thing.

consultant for Big Pharma companies.
death. “Thereisnothingwrongwithpursuingproitsin
order to foster innovaion.

The company knew

it was selling a drug

that would have some

very serious side-

efects when taken in

combinaion with

other drugs.

I mean very serious

side-efects.

But nobody took any

acion and that was ”

deinitely a source of

mi
inspiraion for my book.
ma
am
mh

8 INSIGHT