Pharma Giles writes

PhRMA issues nude charity calendar…
The eagerly awaited 2009 Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturer’s of America (PhRMA) Charity Calendar finally went on sale yesterday, sparking controversy in healthcare circles about the decision to allow famous pharmaceutical executives to be photographed naked. Each of the twelve pages features senior pharmaceutical executives in a ‘relaxed and artistic’ pose, carrying out his or her managerial duties completely in the buff.

One industry critic said, “This is yet another cynical bit of pharmaceutical industry hype if you ask me. The sight of Dan Vasella is a challenge at the best of times, let alone when all he is wearing is a smile.”

PhRMA’s President Billy Tauzin defended the calendar however, saying, “The shots are very tasteful. It was very courageous of our members to pose naked for charity. We think that it shows our softer, fun-loving, and not at all price-gouging/whistleblower persecuting/Medicaid-defrauding, clinical-trials-rigging side.”

A particular favourite is the “Mr. April” page featuring AZ’s CEO Dave Brennan, in which his modesty is protected only by AstraZeneca’s famous “bucket of money”, whilst the ensemble photograph for December features the entire Abbott executive management team posed tastefully around Miles White’s boardroom table.

Pfizer CEO Jeff Kindler and General Counsel Amy Schulman appear naked together in a ‘corporate legal department setting’, whilst the shot of Schering Plough’s Carrie Cox recreating her 2007 stock option exercise celebrations prior to the Vytorin trials results also stands out.
This alone caused a number of critics to express their relief that Pfizer’s Karen Katen has long since retired.

“I can’t see what all of the fuss is about,” said Merck’s CEO Dick (Mr. October) Clark. “Anyone can see that we’re all wearing fine suits of clothes in the calendar. Only a fool would think that we are appearing in the ‘all together’…”