While millionaire and war profiteer Michael Moore is working on a film titled Sicko (not an autobiographical introspection), the subjects of his film, biopharmaceutical corporations, quietly participate in their own social commentary:
Bayer pledges US$ 2 million for flood victims
Amgen Donates $2.5 Million to Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Abbott Pledges Donation Of $4 Million In Funds And Nutritional, Medical Products
Pfizer Commits $2 Million and Healthcare Products for Relief and Recovery Efforts for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
Not enough? Here’s more:
AMYLIN:
-Donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross and will match all employee contributions up to an additional $100,000.
-Also donating $50,000 to the Pennington Medical Center at the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge…
ASTELLAS:
-Donating $50,000 to American Red Cross.
-Company will match employee contributions up to $50,000 to American Red Cross…
ASTRAZENECA:
-Initial cash donation of $1 million to the American Red Cross.
-Will match AZ employee donations to the American Red Cross dollar-for-dollar…
Bristol-Myers Squibb:
-Initial donation of $1 million in cash to the Red Cross.
-Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation will match all BMS U.S. employee donations to the American Red Cross.
-Mead Johnson Nutritionals is currently shipping infant formula to the federal government and is working with the American Red Cross to coordinate the shipment of additional products.
-Working with company’s relief agency partners to arrange the donation and distribution of Bristol-Myers Squibb medicines.
BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM:
-Donating up to $600,000 in cash and additional product donations as needed.
CEPHALON:
-Matching employee donations to hurricane relief organizations.
ELI LILLY:
-Donating $1 Million to American Red Cross.
-Donating $1 million in insulin products, working through Heart to Heart and the American Red Cross.
-Plans to send 40,000 vials of refrigerated insulin.
-Will match dollar-for-dollar employee contributions to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
GENZYME:
-Will make product donations.
-Matching employee contribution program.
GLAXOSMITHKLINE:
-Immediate cash donations totaling $1 million to American Red Cross, Mississippi Hurricane Fund and Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation.
-Matching employee contributions.
-Donating medicines and health products as needed.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON:
-Working closely with disaster relief organizations to meet the immediate needs for personal care and medical products and determine ongoing requirements.
-As an initial response, the company donated approximately $250,000 worth of essential disaster relief products including 2,000 personal care kits and two Disaster Relief Modules to MAP International that include non-prescription pain relievers and wound care products.
-Matching employee and retiree donations to the American Red Cross. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar.
MERCK:
-Immediate cash donation of $1 million from The Merck Company Foundation to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts.
-Working closely with affected states and relief agencies to donate requested Merck medicines and vaccines, including such medicines as Hepatitis A vaccine (usually needed in flood situations) and antibiotics. Also, replacement of prescription medicines for victims, hospitals and clinics that lost medicines in the flood.
-Ensuring that areas impacted are aware of the Merck Patient Assistance Program, which provides donated medicines free for eligible Americans.
-100% match (by The Merck Company Foundation) of employee donations to qualified relief agencies engaged in disaster relief efforts.
MILLENNIUM:
-Employees will have the opportunity to provide support to those impacted by Hurricane Katrina through payroll deductions. Donations will be sent to both AmeriCares and the American Red Cross.
NOVARTIS:
-Cash and product donations from Novartis Group companies within the US (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Gerber, Sandoz, Novartis Nutrition, Novartis Animal Health and Novartis OTC).
-Working with local government officials and third party organizations to ship products (AmeriCares, American Red Cross).
-Novartis Hurricane Katrina Relief Employee Matching Gift Program.
ORGANON:
-Will make cash donation.
-Matching employee donations.
-Independently raising money for relief efforts.
OTSUKA:
-Cash donation of $3,000 to Red Cross.
-Will make additional assistance to hurricane victims in the area.
PROCTER & GAMBLE:
-Initially donating $700,000 in combined cash and products.
-Continuing to work with the American Red Cross to assess additional needs.
-Encouraging employees to contribute to the American Red Cross.
PURDUE PHARMA:
-Will match donations made by employees to the American Red Cross and AmeriCares, up to $50,000.
-Working with AmeriCares to provide medications such as antibiotics and antiseptics.
ROCHE:
-Matching Employee Donations to American Red Cross.
-Evaluating needs for product re-supply, product donations, and potential needs for health care system re-building in the devastated areas.
-Working with the American Red Cross and other relief organizations on the ground to see how Roche capabilities and expertise can support their efforts.
SANOFI-AVENTIS:
-Matching employee donations.
-Securing medicines such as injectable diabetes medicine and antibiotics to donate to the relief effort.
-Additional cash donations, targeted relief aid in process.
-Helping employees who have been affected by the storm.
SCHERING-PLOUGH:
-Initial product donation of $2,000,000.
-$500,000 cash donation.
-Company employee match program.
SEPRACOR:
-Offering a matching gift program.
SERONO:
-Offering a matching gift program.
-Assisting employees who have been impacted in the regions of the hurricane.
-Assessing needs of victims and donating products as necessary.
SOLVAY:
-Offering a matching gift program.
3M:
-Authorized $500,000 in employee matching gifts.
-$1,000,000 in safety, medical and cleaning products (already shipped over 75,000 respirators).
VALEANT:
-Match employee donations.
-Donate appropriate medicines to relief efforts.
-Provide support for any affected employees.
-Allow time off for employees that want to provide assistance.
WYETH:
-Donating $1 million, which will be distributed to several organizations including the American Red Cross and the Children’s Health Fund.
-Matching employee donations to the American Red Cross.
-Donating needed pharmaceutical products to relief efforts.
PhRMA:
-Matching all employee donations.
The press release from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)…