Everything is for Sale, Now

Even the Nobel Prize.

The integrity of the Nobel prize was called into question last night after it emerged that a member of the jury also sat on the board of a pharmaceuticals giant that benefited from the award of this year’s prize for medicine. Prosecutors were studying whether AstraZeneca, the London-based multi-national pharmaceutical company, could have exerted undue influence on the award.

The joint winner of this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine, Harald zur Hausen, was recognised for his work on the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer. AstraZeneca has a stake in two lucrative vaccines against the virus. Two senior figures in the process that chose Mr. zur Hausen have strong links with the pharmaceutical company, which has also recently begun sponsoring the Nobel website and promotional subsidiary.

The idea that Big Pharma has wormed its corrupt tentacles into even the Nobel Prize Committees is sad and enraging at the same time. From here on out, when a Nobel Prize is awarded, we're going to have to wonder what company stands to benefit and who was paid off.