Drugs and Drug Companies Worry Me -

I can understand that drug companies do a lot of work and want to profit from that work... only... the amounts
of money to be gotten are so huge that I worry about ethics and whether the drugs are really safe and
whether they really do any Good.

Today, when I was looking at different stocks, I was thinking of investing in Cubist Pharmaceuticals. I'd been
in it before and it did okay.

But, before I invest I like to look at the recent headlines. When I looked at a Monday, July 31, 2006 headline
for Cubist, I thought I'd do this page. Just as an example.

Here is the story:

31-Jul-2006

Amendment or Waiver to Code of Ethics, Financial Statements and Exhibi



Item 5.05 Amendment to Code of Ethics
On July 25, 2006, the Board of Directors of the registrant, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
or Cubist, authorized, approved and adopted an amendment to Cubist's Code of
Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") to: (a) make the reporting of violations or suspected
violations of the Code mandatory for all Cubist employees, in addition to the Board of
Directors, (b) delete agents and representatives as entities covered by the Code, so
that it applies only to Cubist's Board of Directors, employees, and consultants; and (c)
allow Cubist's Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Executive Officer to jointly waive
provisions of the Code for employees who are not executive officers of Cubist. A copy
of the Code, as amended, has been filed as an exhibit to this Report on Form 8-K,
attached hereto as Exhibit 14.1, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Okay, doesn't (a) ever sound good? Like they are interested in more ethical behavior and are ready to
enforce it?

(b) made me wonder... does this mean that an advertising agent could say untrue things and it would be
okay?

(c) looked to me as if it was the reason for the change... (c) sounds to me as if they are making it possible for
an employee to be directed to say or do something unethical, and it will now, after this change, be all right.


Who is Cubist Pharmaceuticals? This is their profile:

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company,
engages in the research, development, and commercialization
of pharmaceutical products for the acute care and anti-infective
markets. The company markets Cubicin, a lipopeptide, for the
treatment of skin and skin structure infections caused by
certain Gram positive bacteria. The company’s research and
development program is concentrated on the lipopeptide class
to develop additional drug candidates from this class. It
develops HepeX-B, a monoclonal antibody product candidate
for the prevention of reinfection by the Hepatitis B virus in liver
transplant patients, which is in Phase 2 clinical trials, and other
antimicrobial drug candidates. Cubist Pharmaceuticals was
founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Lexington,
Massachusetts.

I wonder how many drug companies have taken this kind of step.

The adverts on telly are so worrying to me. They are so convincing. They reach so many people. They are
aimed at making money, but they seem as if they are aimed at helping people with health problems.