Pharmaguy's Insights Into Drug Industry News

As leaders from across the business world chimed in to speak against the temporary travel ban President Donald Trump implemented last week on citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries and refugees, one industry that relies on immigrant labor stayed under the radar: big pharma (read “The Silence of the #Pharma Lambs on Trump's Immigration Policy”; http://sco.lt/8rSYwD).

According to a 2014 study by researchers at George Mason University, immigrants made up 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2011, but made up 17 percent of the pharmaceutical industry labor force. That reliance has only increased according to Justin Lowry, a postdoctoral researcher at George Mason’s Institute for Immigration Research: An estimate using 2015 data shows that immigrants made up 23 percent of the pharma workforce. Lowry said the industry is “very heavily reliant” on foreign-born workers.

And among those who work in research and development — the engine of discovery and innovation for the industry — immigrants made up one-third of the labor force, according to the 2014 report. Foreign-born scientists made up 43 percent of medical and life scientists, the study found.

“In general, intellectual endeavors in the U.S. — education, research — they rely on immigrants,” Lowry said. “It’s important to have innovation, and innovation comes from diversity. A difference in perspective allows for a difference in approach.”

Yet in the run-up to a big meeting Tuesday morning with Trump, the pharmaceutical industry was muted compared with other big businesses responding to the ban.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade group that represents the industry and usually speaks on its behalf, said it didn’t have a comment about the ban. Neither did Pfizer, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. And those that did have a response to the ban often struck a neutral tone and focused on its employees.

“We are working to fully understand the implications of the Executive Order on our business and our employees,” Astra Zeneca said in a statement.