The book traces the story of 'Big Pharma', the huge drug companies which have made a fortune out of hiking prices, patenting medicines and putting their enormous profits way ahead of human health. According to Dearden they have become more like hedge funds than pharmaceutical companies.

 

As governments rushed to produce vaccines during the Covid pandemic, major companies – which had not been responsible for creating the vaccine - found new ways of extracting billions from governments in the West while abandoning the Global South.

But this is only the latest episode in a long history of financialising medicine, from the marketing of highly addictive OxyContin, through the massive price hiking of many lifesaving drugs, to the 4.5 million South Africans needlessly deprived of HIV/AIDS medication.

Since the 1990s, Big Pharma has gone out of its way to protect its property through the patent system and has focused not on researching new medicines but on building monopolies. It has fundamentally reshaped the relationship between richer and poorer countries, as the access to new medicines and the permission to manufacture them is ruthlessly policed.

In response, Dearden's book offers a pathway to a fairer, safer system for all.

"We are very excited to have Nick Dearden speaking in Glossop" said High Peak Green New Deal Co-ordinator Linda Walker. "Our group is affiliated to Global Justice Now which does wonderful campaigning work on many aspects of financial, social, environmental and racial justice. We have recently joined their campaigns to 'Make Polluters Pay' and for the UK to join most of Europe in leaving the Energy Charter Treaty." 

On Wednesday January 24th Nick Dearden will give a talk at Glossop Labour Club at 7.30pm, followed by questions and discussion. He will sign copies of his book, which will be provided by Dark Peak Books and Gifts, which is supporting the event, and where the book can also be purchased.