Putting lipstick on a pig

So today it was reported that:

Stung by Public Distrust,
Drug Makers Seek to Heal Image

By LEILA ABBOUD
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
August 26, 2005; Page B1

The pharmaceutical industry is undertaking a makeover of its public image.

They plan to do this with voluntary limits on consumer advertising and a program to help get drugs to poor people, which I'm sure they will spend more money advertising that they're helping poor people than actually helping poor people.

So they're for helping poor people huh? When the people of California asked them to do so, guess how they responded?

One sign of the public backlash is unfolding in California, where some consumer groups and unions are pushing a ballot initiative that would punish drug companies if they don't reduce their prices to low- and moderate-income people.

Nevertheless, the drug industry still appears to be putting its faith in lobbying. The industry, including its trade group and individual companies, has spent $72.9 million to oppose the initiative, which will come up for a vote on Nov. 8.

Maybe they could have used that $72 million for the poor patients program. Here's another idea: Stop defrauding taxpayers and patients. The same day the story runs about their new PR campaign, the AG of California accused them of price-gouging. Oooh. Bad timing.

Drugmakers inflated prices, Calif. suit claims

By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY

California accused 39 drugmakers of bilking the state's Medicaid program of up to $1 billion through inflated drug prices, in an amended False Claims Act lawsuit the attorney general filed Thursday.

The lawsuit, first brought against Abbott Laboratories and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in 2003, is one of 17 state-led civil actions that accuse the pharmaceutical industry of widespread price manipulation.

And while you're at it, maybe they could stop killing people with drugs they knew were dangerous.

Vioxx is responsible for an estimated 55,000 deaths.

Bush's follies in the MidEast can't even compare to the pharmaceutical body count.