Bristol-Myers Squibb drug sales

In 1992 Gleb sold off the Drackett household-goods business to S. C. Johnson Sons for 1.5 billion. But despite predictions in the business press of Bristol-Myers Squibb s sale of its OTC drug and nutritional lines (with a combined value of 6.1 billion) and of its toiletries and beauty aids (valued at 2.5 billion), the company continued to maintain these lines. So in 1994, 75 percent of sales derived from pharmaceuticals, divided as follows 58 from prescription drugs, and 17 from consumer health products. Of the remaining 25 percent of sales, 14 percent came from medical devices, and 11 percent from toiletries and beauty aids. 

The Federal Trade Commission sues Bristol-Myers Squibb for blocking the sale of generic drugs, particularly the cancer drugs Platinol and Taxol and the antianxiety drug BuSpar. In a settlement, the company agrees not to engage in these types of unlawful behaviors. 

Baldauf, Sarah. Former Pharma Pitchman Beware of New Drugs. Interview with T. Nesi. U.S. News World Report 145, no. 10 (November 3-10, 2008) 64. Tom Nesi, formerly the director of public affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb, has an insider s view of the sales and marketing tactics used by pharmaceutical companies. Based on his experiences, he warns consumers to avoid taking free sample pills, exercise caution when offered a new medication, and learn about potential side effects. Fie also talks about the history of Vioxx, a drug removed form the market after research showed it caused heart attacks and strokes. 

So where does this leave taxol There is no doubt that it has potent anticancer activity and can extend the lives of patients with advanced ovarian and breast cancers in particular, and it is currently undergoing clinical trials in combination with m-platin as a treatment for lung cancer. But its relative water-insolubility and its toxicity to bone-marrow cells make it fall far short of the wonder-drug status that it achieved in the late 1980s. That said, Bristol-Myers Squibb currently has sales of paclitaxel in excess of 1500... 

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