Background
'John Virapen is now retired, after working more than 30 years in the pharma industry internationally. He has worked at the executive level for some major companies such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. His career started in Sweden where he was Managing Director for Eli Lilly Sweden AB. Virapen now lives in Germany.
Last year Virapen published a fictional novel (written in German) about corruption in the pharma industry, which created some debate. He was urged by the public to tell the true story and has now written a book of memoirs primarily outlining the criminal activities he was involved in during his active years.
The Big Fish here is Eli Lilly. A few months ago Virapen was invited by Andy Vickery, a prominent US attorney, as a fact witness in an ongoing case regarding Prozac. Virapen claims to have "damning evidence" exposing Eli Lilly bribing the regulatory board in Sweden to attain marketing approval for Prozac.
In this podcast, Virapen will reveal some of the details of this ongoing expose that few in the US are aware of.'
Note: "Side Effects: Death" is available in English at Amazon.
What Big Pharma Knows – “Side Effects: Death”
'Many of the horrific school, workplace and mass shootings that have plagued parts of the world over the years may not have occurred if the pharmaceutical industry had been completely honest about the side effects of psychotropic medication, according to the new book Side Effects: Death – Confessions of a Pharma Insider by former executive director of the Swedish Branch of Eli Lilly & Company John Virapen.
Virapen claims that anti-depressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were known to have suicidal and homicidal side effects, even during clinical trials. Thanks to spin marketing and paid, positive articles in scientific journals, he points out, the adverse reactions were often ignored or given little thought by prescribing physicians and patients.
Virapen also asserts the pharmaceutical industry has engaged in bribery and other major forms of corruption to gain approval for and in the marketing of many drugs used to treat such conditions as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, arthritis, pain, diabetes and many others. The industry also “makes up” illnesses to enhance sales and market shares, he says.
To boost sales, Virapen writes, large pharmaceutical corporations spend about $35,000–$40,000 per year and per practicing doctor to persuade them to prescribe their products. In addition to covering or “massaging”
Born in British Guyana, John Virapen went from a door-to-door conman to a pop star, to a pharmaceutical representative to executive director of one of the largest drug companies in the world. He admits to participating in bribery, false information and deception to help launch and market some of the most popularly prescribed (and most dangerous) drugs. In an effort to exorcise his demons and expose the tactics and dangers of the pharmaceutical industry, he wrote this expose.
The book has been published in four languages around the world and is a best-seller in Europe.'
Original HERE and HERE
