ABC’s covert promotion of killer drug REMDESIVIR in TV show sparks legal firestorm
ABC and parent company Disney face accusations of covertly promoting pharmaceutical products like remdesivir and Paxlovid through the fictional medical drama “Doctor Odyssey,” violating Truth in Advertising laws and ethical broadcasting standards.
The show depicts these drugs as safe and effective without disclosing known risks, such as fetal harm from COVID-19 boosters or Paxlovid’s failure rates, while allegedly omitting FDA-mandated disclaimers.
A demand letter alleges undisclosed payments from Pfizer and Gilead Sciences (makers of Paxlovid and remdesivir) to ABC/Disney, a claim denied by the network.
Experts compare the case to past pharmaceutical misconduct, like the opioid crisis, where aggressive marketing obscured lethal risks. Gilead faces a separate lawsuit over remdesivir’s alleged ties to kidney failure, deaths and stillbirths.
The controversy highlights institutional misinformation, corporate/media manipulation and victims’ demands for justice beyond financial compensation – challenging narratives around pharmaceutical “miracle cures.”
A high-stakes legal battle is unfolding as ABC and The Walt Disney Company, its parent, face explosive allegations of covertly promoting dangerous pharmaceuticals for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) through the fictional medical drama “Doctor Odyssey.”
The letter accused the network of deceptive advertising, failure to disclose risks and breaching ethical broadcasting standards. The scandal raises urgent questions about corporate accountability, media manipulation, and the deadly repercussions of unchecked pharmaceutical propaganda.
Scher’s demand letter pointed to the pilot episode, where protagonist Dr. Bryce Barnes (played by Joshua Jackson) claims remdesivir saved his life after being “patient zero” in a New York City hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, in Episode 12, the character enthusiastically distributes COVID-19 booster shots to colleagues, including a nurse who falsely assumes vaccination is necessary for her pregnancy. However, the claim directly contradicts established risks of fetal harm.
The show also depicts Paxlovid – Pfizer’s controversial antiviral – as a cure for COVID-19 with no mention of its documented failure rates or side effects. The demand letter argues these portrayals violate Truth in Advertising laws, citing the Communications Act of 1934 that mandates broadcasters serve the public interest.
Scher also asserted that the show deliberately circumvented disclaimers mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. “Your client does not disclose potential side effects or interactions or any warnings of the nonfictional drugs named on this television show. Nor does your client disclose the amount of money they received to name these drugs,” she wrote.
Experts note parallels to past Big Pharma scandals, including the opioid crisis, where aggressive marketing obscured lethal risks. Simultaneously, Gilead faces its own reckoning.
A groundbreaking class-action lawsuit filed in September 2023 accuses the pharmaceutical giant of deceptive practices tied to remdesivir, including fraudulent promotion and negligence. Testimonials collected by the FormerFedsGroup Freedom Foundation reveal harrowing accounts of patients who suffered kidney failure, death or stillbirths after being administered the drug – often without informed consent.
The legal storm underscores a widening chasm between institutional healthcare narratives and mounting evidence of pharmaceutical misconduct. For victims, the fight extends beyond financial restitution. It’s a demand for justice for lives lost to products falsely branded as “miracle cures.”
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