I re- read John’s (?) Top 10 Pharmaceutical company takeovers last night - and many of us here, we all lived through those years .
There have been some pretty aggressive ambitions and determined push to what became the massive Pharma companies of Today — from the ultra- ruthlessness, that occurred in the last 25 years. **This impacted Lederle . (An honourable and highly respected imo significant saver of lives and 20th century health company advancer ~ but also Bisantrene was ‘minor’ bit , lost !!! In the 90s . ) Tough times up to in the late 90s- from through the 80s even , into when the market lurched again up (‘96/7 —99) and a few tumbles and global fear /ongoing wars , but with expansion through until ~ 2010.
What ‘became ‘ Wyeth - with the supremacy of US money interests during the 90s - when big money could go on a shopping spree to buyout so many compelling new global inventions and major world income asset acquisitions- The Big money snowballed through this time , especially as traction was only beginning to occur , in the 1990s.
We couldn’t see it happening or fathom the enormous , at that time ,sums of money paid - but multiple , worthy , ultimately mega number of drug and treatment income regimes were acquired / bought out , with Population growth foreseen , and the increases in heaith investment by governments — this made it very worthwhile for the bold takeover companies in those years .
**This is Now - already 20+ years ago .
Lederle was an honourable company . They’d existed since the start of the (1900s) - nearly a century year old company , and principled ,plus caring for their employees , + supportive towards true positive highly beneficial treatment research for the ultimate good — the money would come . Lederle were the inventor and owner of global leading vaccinations, lifesaving prophylaxis , the hero provider of emergency mediations for Gas poisoned soldiers of WW1 , and inventor of acute life saving treatments , and were already famous by 1920 . Lederle was the subject even of one of the most famous stories retold , made into one of the most famous movies of all time ! ( sled dog delivery of crucial lifesaving treatment and vaccines- Alaskan mortal disease outbreak in ~1917-to save the children and those succumbing , before more people died . )
They pioneered vaccinations . Crucial lifesaving medicine provider , by the 1950s. * But they actually had pretty much sold out to American interests , although nominally still French , by the end of the 1920s when times got tough .
Our story, Bisantrene - was developing through the 1980s , and by 90s was seriously developing as a cancer fighting better alternative and the only alternative in dire case situations to existing registered Anthracyclines.
Over 40 Clinical trials , including Phase 3 — Bisantrene , showed , consistent, proven efficacy .
Lederle , still recognised as being a French company although far more based in the US - bisantrene was compelling . Enter aggressive Takeover of the US facilities and assets when American arm had got into strife with debt - in the 1990s. Bisantrene was barely seen , and overlooked as a minor story — **not worth the ongoing costs to fund ongoing tertiary research to bring it to a wider expanded oncology market, in the US first & elsewhere. The American assets taken over , really Lederle was only all of value in the US. What was unrequired or unwanted was dropped (‘lost ‘) or then .., Rolled . Bisantrene research work , respect teams and production already discontinued. Pfizer acquired some remnants.?
The Forces in growth , and backstory ,if have not lived through— which became Wyeth and elements of into Pfizer, could be difficult to understand . **Race Oncology CEO was Head of Pfizer , Southern Hemisphere by the second half of the 1990s . He has stated numerous times that he understands how this occurred - that bisantrene was dropped . Dr T also , as over 25 year owner and Founder of his own Biotech company —has stated how he very much comprehends - and credits only the hardwork , and belief in the efficacy and huge benefits of bisantrene in fact that Bisantrene studies funded in the US , ongoing . At that time - the AML market for bisantrene was uneconomic . Bisantrene had broader spectrum efficacy however - and researchers clearly managed to gain continuation of trials in other cancers and AML indication advancement through the end of 80s/ to mid 90s takeover .
The aggression which I cannot fathom , by (men) companies to takeover and amass so many drugs and medical treatments- was real and very successful - ultimately yielded the making of what became the ultra ambitious to Grow , ‘Wyeth ‘. And Big Pharma companies of today. (Planned and formed - ‘grown into ‘ from many , smaller & valiant companies , with the huge work of many good scientists , & medical researcher individuals acquired . ) Not edifying but how it was . I hope things are now changing . Or I will also be going to live under a rock , ..”too” . (For @johndprent ; & punny for @Bundy_Too. . )
In the 90s . )
(20min delay)
