What you won't see in today's Times

Feb/15/2007 05:45 Filed in: Pharma Business
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Well, well..talk about a turn around ! It seems that the law has sided with Eli Lilly on the leaks in the Zyprexa case. The judge in fact labeled the reporters conduct "reprehensible" and issued an injunction against the attorney who leaked the information to the press as well as an "expert witness" for the plaintiffs. Unfortunately this may be like putting water on a fire after it has been extinguished.


The Times did a great job of reporting the leaked documents in front page and front business page stories, Rather than question the motives of the attorney who leaked this information the Times chose to point fingers. While it is true that any neglect on Lilly's part to hide the weight gain issue is inexcusable the reporter obviously felt that the millions of people who have taken Zyprexa, and are leading better lives, were not worthy of mentioning. He also seemed to leave out the motives of the attorney who is in litigation with Lilly over Zyprexa. He was obviously looking for a huge payday and wanted to pressure Lilly into a settlement.

This story of the injunction was not covered in the Times, at least anywhere that this author could find. The Times has an axe to grind with big pharma that much is obvious from its editorials and continued negative stories. It should however offer readers better coverage and more balanced reporting than this. When I read the Times I now question all their stories and with each one a great newspaper becomes more ordinary.

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