From the Thyroid to Wall Street

By Pat Elder
December 3, 2024

National Cancer Institute

I was watching an advertisement on television last week that was marketing a drug to treat specific diseases, and it mentioned the thyroid. It made me think that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with hypothyroidism and an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Then I began jotting down the names of the pharmaceutical products they were peddling and I quickly realized that these drugs treat conditions that may be brought on by the ingestion of PFAS. Sure, the diseases and disorders may be manifested by several causes, but PFAS is a potential causal factor of the  conditions cited by the drug companies in all of the most popular pharmaceutical ads on TV.  

Most European countries ban direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising while a giant industry has evolved around peddling drugs on American TV, especially on news programs like MSNBC, Fox, and CNN.

The American Chemistry Council, a heavy hitter in Congress with $15.7 million spent on lobbying last year, represents manufacturers of PFAS like 3M, BASF, and Chemours. While PhRMA, another big spender in Congress with $24 million spent on lobbying, represents the interests of Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly that manufacture drugs to treat symptoms that may be brought on by  PFAS.

Then I realized the stock traders that advertise on the same news programs were selling products that include mutual funds that may invest in companies that create substances like PFAS that cause diseases, disorders, and cancers while also investing in the stocks of companies that make the pharmaceuticals to treat them.  

It has been a great year for mutual funds. What’s not to like?

Following is a list of name-brand drugs with familiar images from TV ads, followed by a snippet linking the ailment to PFAS

Astepro

Maker: Bayer - Treatment for Cold, flu, allergies 
Number of ad impressions: 7.4 billion

PFAS can increase the incidence of the cold and flu by impairing the immune system, meaning people exposed to PFAS may be more susceptible to catching the flu due to a reduced ability to fight off infections.

Skyrizi

Maker: AbbVie  -  Treatment for: Crohn’s disease and Psoriatic arthritis.
Number of ad impressions: 6 billion

PFAS is associated with an increased risk of Crohn's disease, with some studies showing a possible association between PFAS and psoriasis, which is a key component of psoriatic arthritis.

Sotyktu

Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb - Treatment for: Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Number of ad impressions: 4.34 billion

There is growing evidence suggesting a potential association between exposure to PFAS and an increased risk of psoriasis.

Mounjaro

Maker: Eli Lilly - Treatment for: Type 2 diabetes
Number of ad impressions: 3.05 billion

Type 2 diabetes - There is growing evidence that exposure to PFAS may be associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Rinvoq

Maker: Abb Vie – Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis

Rheumatroid Arthritis - there is growing evidence suggesting an association between exposure to PFAS and an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)   

Crohn’s disease - PFAS is associated with an increased risk of Crohn's disease.

Ulcerative colitis - Research indicates a potential association between PFAS and an increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis,

Psoriatic Arthritis - Some studies indicate a possible association with psoriasis, which is a key component of psoriatic arthritis.

  The  Downs Law Group  helps to make this work possible. Their support allows us to research and write about military contamination around the world. They’ve helped us buy hundreds of PFAS kits and they’ve helped pay for flights and hotels. The firm is working to provide legal representation to individuals in the U.S. and abroad with a high likelihood of exposure to a host of contaminants.

The Downs Law Group employs attorneys accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist those who have served in obtaining VA Compensation and Pension Benefits they are rightly owed.