"Joel Lexchin has written a very thorough overview of the Canadian history of public policy and the pharmaceutical industry. This work is a testament to the author's standing as a world expert in this area." -- James McCormack, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia "Private Profits versus Public Policy is a very interesting and well-referenced work. It offers a wealth of information in a field of work where hard information is difficult to gather." -- Nuria Homedes, School of Public Health, University of Texas

The widespread condemnation of drastic price increases on life-saving drugs highlights our growing dependency on and vulnerability to international pharmaceutical conglomerates. However, aren’t the interests of the public supposed to supersede the pursuit of private profit?

In his new work, Private Profits versus Public Policy, Joel Lexchin addresses this question as he examines how public policy with respect to the pharmaceutical industry has evolved in Canada over the past half century. Although the Canadian government is supposed to regulate the industry to serve the needs of public health, waves of deregulatory reforms and intellectual property rights legislation have shifted the balance of power in favour of these companies’ quest for profit.  Joel Lexchin offers a series of recommendations to tip the scale back in the public’s favour. This enlightening work is the first book that deals exclusively with the pharmaceutical industry in Canada in over thirty years.