 |
         
|
Elsewhere in the medical-industrial complex, ABC delivered negative publicity for Pfizer and CBS offered bad news for Merck. CBS' senior in-house physician Jon LaPook told us about a clinical trial of Niacin, otherwise known as Vitamin B. The vitamin manufacturer stacked its bargain pills up against Merck's high-priced Zetia to test which was better at reducing plaque in the arteries of heart patients. While Zetia was better at lowering cholesterol, the vitamin supplement came out ahead at clearing arteries. Researchers are waiting for results of a "much larger trial."
ABC's Bill Weir traveled to New London. The Connecticut town has subsidized 40% of Pfizer's property taxes for the past decade and famously used its powers of eminent domain to evict a middle class neighborhood to make way for "a five star hotel, condos and an office park" for the pharmaceutical firm. Those evictions were upheld by the Supreme Court back in 2005. The upshot, Weir told us, is that Pfizer's ten-year abatement has now lapsed. It is closing its New London offices and has abandoned the development. The cleared land "may be the most symbolic weed-choked lot in America."
You must be logged in to this website to leave a comment. Please click here to log in so you can participate in the discussion.
