Pharma’s Rogues’ Gallery
The term “Rogues’ Gallery” has been around for quite some time.
Used by law enforcement agencies for identification purposes, it is generally defined as a collection of mug shots along with descriptions, methods of operation, hiding places, and known associates of the criminals.
Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detection Agency used this method of identification as early as 1855. There is also evidence that Isaiah W. Lees a detective in the San Francisco police department used this method around 1854 or 1855.
If you remember, or are a current fan of, the Dick Tracy police detective cartoons, you will know that for a while the cartoon featured a one panel Rogues’ Gallery. The panel provided a brief description of characters from Tracy's past, not all of whom were criminals, but all were at least suspected of crime, including, at least one time, Dick Tracy himself.
The entries deal primarily with the crimes they committed or were suspected of. The entries then usually ended with a brief description of the suspect's ultimate fate.
I was reminded of this term recently, as I watched Elizabeth Homes, the founder of blood-testing company Theranos, and convicted of fraud and conspiracy, report to federal prison in Texas for her 11-year, three-month sentence. In addition to four counts of wire fraud and conspiracy she is also, along with her former business partner, required to pay $452M in restitution to former investors. We’ll have to wait and see if that happens.
Martin Shkreli, aka “Pharma Bro” also earns a spot on the pharma Rogue’s Gallery. The ex-Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO was found guilty in 2017 of security fraud. Sentenced to seven years in jail in 2018 he was released early in May 2022. He is best known for raising the price of a rare life-saving drug by 5,000%, for which he faced a separate antitrust lawsuit. After Turing Pharmaceuticals acquired the US rights to Daraprim — an antiparasitic pill taken by immunocompromised patients like AIDS victims — the drug's price shot up from $13.50 per pill to $750.
There are other individuals who come to mind – who could be added to the list. But I think the two above are enough for now.
It’s unfortunate that things like this happen – incidents that sully the reputation of an industry that is already under scrutiny. All this does is provide ammunition to those who like to take shots and love to say “See they are all criminals! I told you so!!”
Let’s hope the pharma industry’s Rogues’ Gallery list stays short and stays out of the comics.
Mike Auerbach
Editor-In-Chief
[email protected]
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