The Aspirin Wars: Money, Medicine and 100 Years of Rampant Competition [Paperback]

Charles C. Mann (Author), Mark L. Plummer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993

No drug in the world outsells aspirin. With billions of dollars at stake, and no medically significant differences among the hundreds of brands around the globe, rival drug makers have been driven to the extremes of corporate warfare. Authors Mann and Plummer look inside this world of relentless competition to show the ploys, the battles, the bursts of extraordinary marketing, advertising and litigation that have resulted - and relate the unique and little-known medical history of the drug itself. "The Aspirin Wars" penetrates the wilder shores of capitalism to reveal the essence of business competition at its canniest.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fierce, global competition for a share of the $25 billion analgesic trade based on aspirin, the 100-year-old, multipurpose drug, and its derivatives (Bufferin, Alka Seltzer etc.), and rival analgesics (Tylenol, Advil etc.) is vividly recounted here by Mann (coauthor of The Second Creation ) and economist Plummer. They portray such scientists as German chemist Carl Duisberg, who developed aspirin from a form of coal tar, and recall WW I- and WW II-connected international episodes concerning aspirin's exploitation, along with court battles between manufacturers and suits brought against them for false claims by federal regulatory agencies. The authors of this significant report note that while researchers are still probing the secrets of how aspirin works, recent studies have confirmed its value for prevention and treatment of heart attacks and strokes, further intensifying competition among analgesic manufacturers. Photos.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The authors detail the history of the marketing of aspirin as a drug from its introduction in 1899 to the present. They carefully researched the business, medical, and legal literature to supplement information obtained through interviews with numerous scientists, businesspeople, and government officials. Some of the events they describe include the activities of Farbenfabriken Bayer in the United States in the early 1900s, Sterling's purchase of the Bayer name of aspirin, the Food and Drug Administration's regulations in labeling and advertising of aspirin, the introduction of competing products such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and recent claims that aspirin will reduce the risk of heart attacks for healthy people. The authors also provide numerous literature references. Highly recommended for business and medical collections of public, university, and special libraries.
- Bruce Slutsky, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, N.Y.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Pr (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875844014
• ISBN-13: 978-0875844015
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #816,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Charles C. Mann is the author of 1493, a New York Times best-seller, and 1491, which won the U.S. National Academy of Sciences' Keck award for the best book of the year. A correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, Science, and Wired, he has covered the intersection of science, technology, and commerce for many newspapers and magazines here and abroad, including National Geographic, the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and the Washington Post. In addition to 1491 and 1493, he is the co-author of five other books, one of which is a young person's version of 1491 called Before Columbus. His website is www.charlesmann.org.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A most facinating case study of international Business, February 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aspirin Wars: Money, Medicine and 100 Years of Rampant Competition (Paperback)

I first picked up this book in the bargain bin at my college bookstore for only $1.00. It is probably the most interesting non-fiction book I have ever read. Even though it concentrates on the trials and tribulations of aspirin, it gives an interesting picture of over-the-counter drug marketing and promotion during the 20th century. The book is well researched, with liberal footnotes.

The main storyline for the book is about the story of Farbenfabriken Bayer (later IG Farben and Bayer AG) and Sterling Drug, the US owners of the Bayer name (they bought it during an auction of German properties during WWI) It well documents the battle between the two owners of the Bayer name for the Bayer tradmark; a battle that lasted well over 60 years.

One unexpected part of the book was the chapter regarding drug marketing in Latin America. The techniques used there in the mid-20th century closely resemble the patent medicine hucksters in America in the late 1800's.

About the last fourth of the book is dedicated to the recent surge in discoveries of aspirin's use for heart-attacks, stroke, and other clotting related disorders. This is probably the most dry part of the book, but it is still pretty good.

In conclusion this is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of the drug industry or mass marketing.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A keystone book to any library, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aspirin Wars: Money, Medicine, and l00 Years of Rampant Competition (Hardcover)

You are not a pharmacist until you read this book. Nor are you a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief. Every historian, military expert, and anyone with intellectual curiosity will feel compelled to read it.

Those who have read Ayn Rand, George Orwell and Plutarch will include this tome as a lifetime "must read".

Sadly, it is currently out of print.