Forgive me Funkmeister, I hope I have done you justice there bro.

C_J

So Pfizer, AstraZeneca et al have a proven vaccine. No - not perfect, and yet to be proven evidence of how effective they’ll be in the long term as the vaccine technology matures.

At the same time, the UK has just approved Lagevrio, an anti-viral drug manufactured by a different ‘big pharma’ company (Merck) for treatment of COVID symptoms. The UK has also approved Remdesivir for treatment of hospitalised patients, as it’s been shown to be effective at saving the lives of those with severe symptoms and respiratory conditions.

As far as I can see, as proven anti-viral treatments are starting to become available, they’re being approved by the UK government (and I’m sure others as well) as they provide another way of helping to beat this virus.

I don’t see where the vested interests are in that scenario?

      Funky seems like a very smart guy. Not sure why everyone is ganging up on him.

      vinnyt77 Oh, and there’s also Paxlovid, a Pfizer anti-viral treatment which is in the latter stages of clinical trialling. Despite not fully passing regulatory approval, the UK Government has already agreed to purchase 500,000 doses. Think the Oz government are in for the same sorta number as well…

        I bet SM1 wouldn’t mind being taken for a ride by a big pharma

          We’re spending £100bn a year triple vaxxing cunts in the west while Africa & India churn out new variants.

          Oops!

            C_J Let it never be said that CJ does not know his minerals.

            Lol!

              C_J B 1 1 5 2 9 i was just missing one number mate from winning the jackpot.

                Along_the_Wire Big Pharma is in cahoots with governments around the world, Tim.

                There is an important nugget of truth in all the conspiracy theories and it is this.

                1. Pharmaceutical companies do stand to make massively higher profits off new drugs than generic ones.
                2. Pharmaceutical companies do have huge lobbying power.
                3. Pharmaceutical companies cannot necessarily be trusted to have the best interests of the public at heart. Look at the Sackler family.

                    bosstrabs There is an important nugget of truth in all the conspiracy theories and it is this.

                    this is exactly the problem with most conspiracy nuts. start with a grain of truth and build a narrative around it that doesn’t make any sense.

                        303abuser this is exactly the problem with most conspiracy nuts. start with a grain of truth and build a narrative around it that doesn’t make any sense.

                        No, seemingly far-fetched hypotheses are often the basis for important investigative journalism.

                        The CIA, involved in drugs? No-one believed it as anything other than a crackpot conspiracy theory at the time.
                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Webb

                          I agree Dave. What we have here is some folks saying “we’d be wise to keep a watchful eye on big pharma, place limits on their powers and be aware of the conflicts of interest involved here” and other folks responding with “oooh, the Rothschilds, tin hat brigade, David Ike & the lizard people, 911, moon landings lool!”

                            C_J

                            Except that’s not what ‘folks’ are saying, is it? It’s easy to make the sceptics on any side of an argument sound deranged. Of course we should be cautious about any private enterprise whose primary purpose is to turn a profit, because - ya know, capitalism. It doesn’t change the fact that a lot of the shite spouted by brother Funk and his ilk is ill informed bullshit.

                            I’ve got family members who have spent their careers in the pharmaceutical industry. They’re not bad, evil people. I don’t love who they work for, or typically agree with their politics, but the idea that there’s some sort of cabal controlling what happens with new medications is nutsy.

                                vinnyt77 the idea that there’s some sort of cabal controlling what happens with new medications is nutsy

                                Have you never heard of THE JEW CLAW?

                                  I know of dogs that have dewclaw. Is that the same thing?

                                  Dave is the vaccine and quarantine poster boy tbf.

                                  He has been through hell and back.

                                  I will always doff my cap to that.

                                    Smallman1 I should have only done 21 in Shanghai.

                                    But then because I passed through a ‘medium risk’ area with 3 cases, they banged me up again when I arrived in Beijing.