Book: Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom, by Katherine Eban
Good read.
I honestly forgot about the phone call I had with Katherine Eban more than 5 years ago, so it took me by surprise to see my name in her book. Yes, right there on page 224 in black and white.
Katherine interviewed me about my brief experience working in the generic drug industry. It was my first job in an FDA-regulated field. I was only 25 years old – relatively inexperienced, but eager to learn and do the job well. Within the first few weeks, I knew this was not a good fit for me. It seemed like more work was done to get around requirements than to actually meet requirements. While I was not aware of my former employer’s involvement in the widespread generic drug scandal at the time, I knew some of the tasks I was given were unethical at best. I feared disobeying direct orders, but I knew above all else that I had to be honest.
The Pharmaceutical Development industry is both uniquely rewarding and challenging in that your work product can literally save the lives of a very precious and vulnerable population. Lying or misrepresenting information can not only lead to serious personal consequences, but can also cost lives. I’d like to say that everyone learned a lesson from the happenings discussed in Bottle of Lies, but I’m not so sure.
What I can say with certainty is that integrity is the foundation upon which Pearl Pathways was built, and the cornerstone of our continued success. Reflecting upon this early-career moment serves as a strong reminder for the way by which I strive to lead my team and the life science companies that we serve.