2016-02-06

Pharma’s Bad Boy CEO Martin Shkreli Laughs At Congress (video)

ICANN, think you have CEO problems? Here's a Big Pharma CEO (now ex-CEO):


Here's What Happened When Martin Shkreli Went to Congress: Martin Shkreli appeared in front of the House Oversight Committee on February 4, 2016. He didn't say much but his expressions spoke volumes. Watch the former head of Turing Pharmaceuticals plea the fifth and smile at his Congressional questioners. Published on Feb 4, 2016 by Bloomberg.

Wonder if ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade will take the same approach when he answers Senators Cruz, Lankford & Lee's questions?

 "It's not funny, Mr. Shkreli," said US Representative Elijah Cummings. A few minutes later, Cummings told Shkreli: "You can go down as the poster boy for greedy drug company executives, or you can change the system." "I don't think I've ever seen the committee treated with such contempt," said Representative John Mica, a Florida Republican, who added later he would consider asking fellow lawmakers to hold Shkreli in contempt for his behavior, according to VICE News.


Background: Martin Shkreli is "an American entrepreneur and financial and pharmaceutical executive. He is co-founder of the hedge fund MSMB Capital Management, co-founder and former chief executive officer (CEO) of the biotechnology firm Retrophin LLC, and founder and former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals AG. In September 2015, Shkreli received widespread criticism when Turing obtained the manufacturing license for the antiparasitic drug Daraprim and raised its price by 5,556 percent (from US$13.50 to US$750 per tablet). On December 17, 2015, Shkreli was arrested by the FBI on charges of securities fraud and released on bail. He resigned as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals ..." (Wikipedia)

Pharma’s Bad Boy Martin Shkreli Paid $2 Million for Wu-Tang Clan’s New Record - "Shkreli won’t say how much he paid. But someone familiar with the deal says that the Wu-Tang Clan sold him the album for $2 million... The same month, news broke that Shkreli’s new company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, had purchased an anti-parasitic drug called Daraprim and raised its price from $13.50 a pill to $750. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton denounced him. “Price gouging like this in the specialty drug market is outrageous,” Clinton tweeted. Her Republican opponent Donald Trump also attacked Shkreli. “He looks like a spoiled brat to me,” Trump said ... Shkreli seems mildly amused by the controversy. He says it’s his duty as Turing CEO to maximize profits for his investors. “What’s escaped the conversation is, hey, how about the fact that this is actually what I’ve been hired to do,” Shkreli says. “It’s like someone criticizing a basketball player for scoring too many points.” ... Meanwhile, he’s been pranking his critics. In October, he donated $2,700 to Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s rival, which the campaign donated to a Washington health-care facility. Shkreli then applied for an internship on the Vermont senator’s campaign. “I enjoy the back and forth,” he says." (Bloomberg Business)

Turing Pharmaceuticals: turingpharma.com

Martin Shkreli on Twitter @MartinShkreli and YouTube: Martin Shkreli - YouTube

See also: Everything You Know About Martin Shkreli Is Wrong—or Is It? | Vanity Fair




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