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Wyeth

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This article is part of the Global corporations portal on SourceWatch.

Wyeth is one of the worlds largest drug companies. The company was founded in 1926 as American Home Products Corporation and is headquartered in Madison, NJ. It operates in more than 100 countries and has 47,500 employees worldwide. [1] The company has three main branches, the largest being pharmaceuticals, which manufactures vaccines, hormone replacement (Premarin), anti-depressants and other drugs. The company's over the counter brands include Advil, Centrum, Robitussin and ChapStick. It's Fort Dodge Animal Health subsidiary manufactures products for livestock, horses and pets; including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasite control products and growth implants. [2]

In 2009, Pfizer acquired its rival Wyeth for 68 billion dollars.[3]

Contents

Animal testing

Wyeth does animal testing.

Animals by species, numbers & locations (United States)

  • Wyeth Research Div, Collegeville, PA [4]
  • Fort Dodge Laboratories, Fort Dodge, Iowa [5]
  • Ft Dodge Animal Health, Monmouth Junction, NJ [6]

Facility information, progress reports & USDA-APHIS reports

For copies of this facility's U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) reports, other information and links, see also Stop Animal Experimentation Now!: Facility Reports and Information. This Web site lists each of the 50 states; each state's name links to biomedical research facilities in that state, and to PDF copies of government documents where the facilities must report their animal usage.

This facility performed animal experiments involving pain or distress but no analgesics, anesthetics or pain relievers were administered. For copies of this facility's USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) reports, other information and links, see also Facility Reports & Information: Ft Dodge Animal Health, Monmouth Junction, NJ [7]

Contract testing

Wyeth contract tests out to Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). [8] Huntingdon Life Sciences is the 3rd largest contract research organization (CRO) in the world and the largest animal testing facility in all of Europe. Firms hire HLS to conduct animal toxicity tests for agrochemicals, petrochemicals, household products, pharmaceutical drugs and toxins. HLS has a long history of gross animal welfare violations. See also Huntingdon Life Sciences.

Women’s health

According to its website:

"For more than 65 years, Wyeth has been a leader in women’s health care with its postmenopausal hormone therapies and oral contraceptives. Wyeth continues to have active product development programs in this important category and is committed to developing new therapies with the potential to significantly improve the health of women worldwide." [9]

Premarin & PMU ranches

Straight up from the horses bladder. Equinevoices.org

Premarin was approved by the USDA in 1942 and is made by Wyeth. Premarin is a drug derived from pregnant mares’ urine (PMU), is prescribed for "symptoms of menopause". The urine is collected from mares confined in barns on over 70 "PMU ranches" in the United States and Canada. Despite the availability of humane and safer alternatives, Premarin is among the most widely prescribed and profitable drugs in America. The industry is "self-regulated through manufacturer Wyeth’s Code of Practice". In other words there is no outside scrutiny. Mares in Premarin production commonly suffer from abrasions, leg swelling, excessive boredom, stress, and early death. Strapped to urine collection bags six months out of the year; they are tied to stalls too narrow to turn around or lie down in and are denied free access to water. There is no minimum code of practice for exercise or even that they be exercised at all. Mares in Premarin production foal every year for 8 to 9 years; after which they are sold for slaughter. (The normal life expectancy is 20 to 25 years.) Every year thousands of foals born on PMU ranches are sent to auction and also end up in slaughterhouses for meat markets in Europe and Japan. [1]

Majority of 50,000 PMU foals sent to slaughter

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), approximately 50,000 foals are born out of the PMU industry annually; most of which are sent to slaughter for overseas markets. The approximately 40,000 horses comprised of 20,000 mares and their foals, has created an impossible burden for existing rescue facilities, groups and sanctuaries (which apparently Wyeth does nothing to ease or take responsibility for). The majority of PMU farms are in North Dakota and Western Canada. [2]

Studies of Premarin health risks

A July 2002 study conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) linked Premarin to increased risk of ovarian cancer. The study followed 44,241 women over 20 years. Women using estrogen alone had almost twice the risk of ovarian cancer compared to those not taking the hormone. Those using estrogen alone for 20 years or more were three times as likely to develop ovarian cancer.

In March of 2004, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) halted a clinical trial of 11,000 women taking the estrogen-only drug Premarin after researchers linked the hormone replacement therapy to increased risk of stroke.

In 2007, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, conducted an adverse reporting system review of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports spanning eight years. Estrogen was found to be the number one drug most likely to cause disability or other serious outcome. Estrogen caused over 11,514 serious health events in an 8 year period.[3]

Premarin increases risks of uterine cancer, heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots. It may also increase risks of dementia in women 65 or older.[4], [5]

Other side effects reported

Reported side effects of Premarin include sharp chest pain, lower leg pain, breast lumps, severe headaches, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, severe stomach pain or swelling, abnormal vaginal bleeding, mild dizziness, nausea and fluid retention. [6] See also Premarin side effects reported by women. [7], [8]

Example of Premarin lawsuit

According to this lawsuit, Wyeth and subsidiaries downplayed the dangers of menopause medications which caused permanent injuries. Targeted brands included Premarin, Provera and Prempro and thier generic equivalents, which have been linked to breast cancer, blood clots, heart attacks and strokes in recent studies. The lawsuit claimed that the pharmaceutical companies "tested, studied, designed, produced, marketed, promoted, packaged or otherwise placed these three drugs and their generic equivalents into the public stream of commerce." According to the lawsuit, the defendants "convinced doctors and patients that menopause was not the natural process of aging," but a disease requiring drug therapy; through advertising campaigns. [9]

Alternatives to Premarin

Lifestyle changes like exercise and diet can be effective alternatives. There are also FDA approved plant and synthetic medications available. According to Dr. Ray Kellosalmi, a Canadian physician involved in Premarin foal rescue:

"Unfortunately, it is easy and comfortable for physicians to prescribe drugs that have been around for a long time. It is also easy not to think about our contribution to the cruel chain of events that our prescriptions may allow, and thus the PMU industry is supported by our acquiescence. But the doomsday clock is again well on its way for tens of thousands of innocent lives that, once again, will end in terror needlessly. With a few strokes of the prescribing pen, we are able to decide the fate of future innocents." [10]

Ad boycott against Air America Radio

Wyeth refused to advertise on the progressive Air America Radio. In October 2006, around 90 companies, including Wyeth, told ABC Radio Networks that they did not want their ads to play on radio stations that carried Air America Radio. [11] [12] [13]

Political contributions

Wyeth gave $270,000 to federal candidates in the 2006 election through its political action committee - 34% to Democrats and 64% to Republicans. [14]

Public relations & lobbying

Americans for Medical Progress's (AMP) board of directors consists of senior executives and other representatives employed by the pharmaceutical and vivisection industries. Board members represent multinational, billion dollar corporations as well as universities and institutions receiving government grants for vivisection. They include: Charles River, Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Wyeth. [15]

AMP is also listed as a "member" of Animal Welfare Council (AWC), a lobbying and public relations group for rodeos, horse slaughter, Premarin production and agribusiness. [16]

The company spent $3,118,000 for lobbying in 2006. Some of the lobbying firms used were Wexler & Walker Public Policy Associates, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, and HillCo Partners LLC. [17]

Financial statement

  • 2007 Net Revenue - $22.4 billion
  • 2007 Net Income - $4.8 billion (excluding unusual items)
  • 2007 Diluted Earnings per Share - $3.52 (excluding unusual items) [18]

Personnel & board

Key executives & pay

Robert A. Essner was the fourth top wage earner among pharmaceutical CEOs in 2007.

  • Total Compensation: $24.1M
  • 2007 Revenue: $22.4B
  • 2006 Revenue: $20.35B
  • Change: 10%
"Bob Essner's 2007 compensation fell to $24.1 million from more than $32 million in 2006, which included $1.7 million in base pay, $10.1 million in stock awards, $4.7 million in options and a $3.2 million bonus. Essner also spent $15,000 on personal use of a company car and driver and $95,000 on air travel. Wyeth's new CEO Bernard Poussot, saw his package decline to $12.7 million from $14.4 million. Poussot took over for outgoing CEO Essner January 1, 2008." [23]

Board of directors

Contact

Wyeth
5 Giralda Farms
Madison, NJ 07940
[25]

Web address: http://www.wyeth.com

Articles & sources

SourceWatch articles

References

  1. ↑ ASPCA Equine Program, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, accessed January 2009
  2. ↑ The HSUS Demands Wyeth Laboratories Take Responsibility for Premarin Horses, HSUS, October 2003
  3. ↑ Premarin, Injury Board, Sept 2007
  4. ↑ Prescription Drugs: Premarin, PDR Health, accessed August 2009
  5. ↑ Premarin, Drugs.com, January 2006
  6. ↑ Premarin, Injury Board, Sept 2007
  7. ↑ Premarin Side Effects Reported by Women and Denied by Doctors - Letters 2002, Athenet.net, accessed February 2009
  8. ↑ Premarin Side Effects Reported by Women and Denied by Doctors - Letters 2001, Athenet.net, accessed February 2009
  9. ↑ Eve Byron Second suit filed against Wyeth, Helena Independent Record, January 2005
  10. ↑ ASPCA Equine Program, ASPCA, accessed August 2009
  11. ↑ Marc Fisher, "Air America, in the Throes of Victory?", Washington Post, December 10, 2006.
  12. ↑ "Air America on Ad Blacklist?", FAIR, October 31, 2006.
  13. ↑ "Air America Blackout", FAIR.org/ABC memo, October 25, 2006.
  14. ↑ 2006 PAC Summary Data, Open Secrets, accessed August 2007.
  15. ↑ Board of Directors, Americans for Medical Progress, accessed December 2009
  16. ↑ AWC Members, Animal Welfare Council, accessed January 2009
  17. ↑ Wyeth lobbying expenses, Open Secrets.
  18. ↑ Wyeth At A Glance, Wyeth, accessed May 2009
  19. ↑ Robert A. Essner, Forbes, accessed February 2008.
  20. ↑ Bernard J Poussot, Forbes, accessed February 2008.
  21. ↑ Joseph M Mahady, Forbes, accessed February 2008.
  22. ↑ Robert R Ruffolo Jr, Forbes, accessed February 2008.
  23. ↑ Wyeth's Bob Essner - CEO pay, Fierce Pharma, Top 17 Paychecks in Big Pharma, May 19, 2008
  24. ↑ Board of Directors, Wyeth, accessed August 2007
  25. ↑ Contact, Wyeth, accessed October 2009

External articles

External resources

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