Pfizer
Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Based in the United States, it manufactures some of the most widely used prescription drugs in the world including Viagra.
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Background and objectives
Pfizer was founded in 1849, it is in terms of revenue the largest Pharmaceutical company in the world, in 2004 it's revenues were over $50 billion. From the Pfizer website -
"Our basic role is to discover and develop medicines, help make medicines available, advance and share health information, and partner on public health programs." [1]
Bjork-Shiley heart valve
One of Pfizer's products, the Bjork-Shiley heart valve has been the subject of numerous lawsuits against the company. The heart valve was implanted in over 40,000 people between 1979 and 1986, however by the late 80's several cases of heart valve breakages began appearing. Worldwide around 600 breakages have been reported causing roughly 500 fatalities. The incident was all the more shocking as during testing in the 1970's several breakages were reported without the product ever being recalled, in fact several faulty valves were discovered by inspectors, superficially altered to make it appear they were safe and then implanted into patients. In 1994 Pfizer was found guilty of negligent practice and forced to pay around $200 million in damages over the incident. [2]
