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Pull Back the Curtain
Bad Pharma centers around a pharmaceutical professional and a medical monitor navigating the consequences of Big Pharma prioritizing of profits over patient safety. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Bad Pharma is based on real-life experiences witnessed by me and other colleagues that were then embellished to make for an exciting reader experience. The basic premise of the novel – that a pharma company could decide not to give those infants who received their failed experimental vaccine a dose of the licensed vaccine shown to prevent the given disease – actually happened, and was likely the most disheartening experience of my pharma career.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
My father was a very intelligent man, who did not harness his intellect to achieve career success and financial comfort. Watching him struggle due to poor decisions made during the college years made me extremely motivated to make the most out of any talent that I had. I was driven to make a difference with my life and chose a career in medicine as the best way to do that.
This is such a timely topic. What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
As the basis of this story are events that occurred in real life, it was very easy to craft the story in a way that was realistic. Many of the scenes in the book were scenes that I lived.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
This novel was my primary passion, as I wanted to pull back the curtain and educate the public on how Big Pharma makes decisions that may impact their lives. The book took four years to put together – mainly because writing is “not my day job.” I am therefore unsure I will write another one soon. I have considered a few topics, though. One would be an expose on the population of individuals who are hooked on gambling as a “Hail Mary” to transform their lives. I am interested in interviewing many of these individuals, understanding their motives, and getting a sense of how realistic or unrealistic their goals are. The title of the book would likely be called “Crapped Out.”
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When Siddhartha Kumar, OPL’s lead medical monitor assigned to the trial, discovers that RSVIX is not performing as planned, he notifies his superiors, recommending they stop the trial and offer a dose of RESPIRWELL to all the study participants to ensure their protection. When the company refuses to inoculate the trial population with the licensed vaccine, Sid questions the ethics behind this decision while continuing to advocate for the safety of the children. Sid’s insistence leads to his dismissal, leaving like-minded others in the company scrambling to fill the void.
Inspired by a true story, Bad Pharma delves into the consequential issues surrounding drug development, which often puts science and business at odds, and asks the ultimate question: when is the risk not worth the reward?
Bad Pharma
Bad Pharma is a medical thriller that dives into the murky waters of the pharmaceutical industry. It tells the story of Nora O’Connell, a savvy pharmaceutical professional, and Siddhartha Kumar, a meticulous medical monitor, as they navigate the ethical quagmire of Big Pharma’s relentless drive for profit. The story intertwines corporate ambition, personal stakes, and moral dilemmas, shedding light on the sometimes disastrous consequences of prioritizing business over patient safety.
One thing I loved about this book is its rich and complex characters. Nora’s razor-sharp wit and unrelenting ambition make her a captivating protagonist, but it’s her internal struggle with corporate ethics that truly resonates. Take her confrontation with Sid in Chapter 4—her fiery accusations and Sid’s calculated calmness highlight the human element in a soulless corporate environment. Sid, too, is a standout character. Haunted by the ghost of Bonifidia, a past pharmaceutical disaster, he’s the moral compass of the story. His dogged determination to analyze RSVIX data properly, despite mounting pressure, had me rooting for him even when his methods bordered on maddeningly slow.
The writing itself is vivid and engaging, but at times, it teeters on over-explaining. The passages detailing the clinical trial process, while necessary, occasionally bogged down the pace. That said, I appreciated the clarity in these sections, particularly when Sid outlines the risks associated with cutting corners in vaccine trials. The authors don’t just present the science—they make you feel the weight of the decisions being made. For instance, the description of Keturah’s hospitalization in Chapter 6 was gut-wrenching. It made the stakes of the BREATHE trial painfully real.
I also found the tension between Nora and Sid compelling. The workplace banter was a welcome reprieve from the darker themes, providing a balance that kept the narrative from feeling too heavy. The authors’ ability to blend sharp commentary on the pharmaceutical industry with human connection is a testament to their skill.
Bad Pharma is a moral inquiry wrapped in an engaging narrative. I would highly recommend it to anyone intrigued by the intersection of science, ethics, and corporate drama. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a corporate worker, or simply a fan of thought-provoking conspiracy thrillers, this book will make you question how much we’re willing to compromise in the name of progress.
Pages: 365 | ASIN : B0DPSWQMXK
LITERARY TITAN 