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Pharma Fraud Campaign

Pharma Fraud Campaign

Catching Fraud

Project Background

Pharmaceutical fraud has taken many forms—from falsifying data in clinical trials to hiding side effects, manipulating stock prices, or defrauding Medicare. Cases like Theranos, Purdue Pharma, and Cassava Sciences show how modern pharma firms can weaponize science and public trust for financial gain. Yet public understanding and awareness of this pattern remains limited. This campaign aims to build a public record, especially for young audiences, that documents and contextualizes both historic and ongoing fraud within the industry.

The Pharma Fraud Campaign investigates and exposes pharmaceutical companies involved in deceptive, unethical, or fraudulent behavior—both past and present. Through well-researched, accessible profiles, this initiative educates the public about how corruption and profit-seeking behavior in the pharmaceutical industry endanger patients and public trust.

Objectives

  • Publish 10 historical profiles of companies involved in landmark fraud cases (e.g., Vioxx/Merck, Purdue Pharma, GSK's Paxil scandal).

  • Publish 10 profiles of modern companies engaging in suspected or proven fraud (e.g., Cassava Sciences, Mallinckrodt, Theranos).

  • Make profiles accessible to students, journalists, and policy advocates.

  • Use research to inform future legislation and public education efforts

Key Features Delivered

Detailed Investigative Profiles:

  • Timeline of key events

  • Legal/regulatory findings

  • Internal whistleblower reports

  • Financial/investor impacts

Documentation: All claims supported by citations from court records, academic sources, or investigative journalism

Our Approach

1. Company Selection

  • Identify 10 current and 10 past companies using:

    • SEC filings and stock short reports

    • Whistleblower cases and lawsuits

    • Coverage in Stat News, The New York Times, FiercePharma, ProPublica, etc.

    • Public DOJ, FDA, and FTC investigations

2. Research and Writing

  • For each company, include:

    • Overview of the drug/product involved

    • Allegations or confirmed fraudulent activity

    • How the fraud was exposed (e.g., whistleblower, short seller, FDA audit)

    • Regulatory or legal outcomes

    • Broader implications (e.g., deaths, bankruptcies, public health damage)

Results

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