Changes

French pharmaceutical company '''Boiron''' is the world largest manufacturer of [[Homeopathy|homeopathic]] products. Branches of the listed company exist in 59 countries. However, Boiron has no presence in German speaking countries.

French pharmaceutical company '''Boiron''' is the world largest manufacturer of [[Homeopathy|homeopathic]] products. Branches of the listed company exist in 59 countries. However, Boiron has no presence in German speaking countries.

In 2009, Boiron had a turnover of 526&nbsp;million Euros (91&nbsp;million Euros profit) with a slight decrease to 520&nbsp;million Euros in 2010. In 2010, turnover in France amounted to 279&nbsp;million Euros and Boiron employed a workforce of 4,081 persons. The majority of shares is held by the Boiron family, the General manager and the chairman of the board of directors also are members of this family. Boiron spent about 128 million Euro on marketing in 2010 but only 6.3 million on research(pharmaceutical companies in general spend around twice as much on marketing as research) - a ratio of 20 to 1.<ref name='Report2010' />

In 2009, Boiron had a turnover of 526&nbsp;million Euros (91&nbsp;million Euros profit) with a slight decrease to 520&nbsp;million Euros in 2010. In 2010, turnover in France amounted to 279&nbsp;million Euros and Boiron employed a workforce of 4,081 persons. The majority of shares is held by the Boiron family, the general manager and the chairman of the board of directors are members of this family as well. Boiron spent about 128 million Euro on marketing in 2010 but only 6.3 million on research (pharmaceutical companies in general spend around twice as much on marketing than on research) - a ratio of 20 to 1.<ref name='Report2010' />

In June 2005 Dolisos Laboratories, another manufacturer of homeopathic products, was bought by Boiron.

In June 2005 Dolisos Laboratories, another manufacturer of homeopathic products, was bought by Boiron.

:''Main results - ... There was no evidence that homoeopathic treatment can prevent influenza-like syndrome...Oscillococcinum treatment reduced the length of influenza illness by 0.28 days (95% CI 0.50 to 0.06). Oscillococcinum also increased the chances that a patient considered treatment to be effective (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.00)...Authors' conclusions - Though promising, the data were not strong enough to make a general recommendation to use Oscillococcinum for first-line treatment of influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Further research is warranted but the required sample sizes are large. Current evidence does not support a preventative effect of Oscillococcinum-like homeopathic medicines in influenza and influenza-like syndromes.''<ref>Andrew Vickers, Claire Smith: ''Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes'', The Cochrane Library, 15.4.2009, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3 [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3/abstract abstract]</ref>

:''Main results - ... There was no evidence that homoeopathic treatment can prevent influenza-like syndrome...Oscillococcinum treatment reduced the length of influenza illness by 0.28 days (95% CI 0.50 to 0.06). Oscillococcinum also increased the chances that a patient considered treatment to be effective (RR 1.08; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.00)...Authors' conclusions - Though promising, the data were not strong enough to make a general recommendation to use Oscillococcinum for first-line treatment of influenza and influenza-like syndromes. Further research is warranted but the required sample sizes are large. Current evidence does not support a preventative effect of Oscillococcinum-like homeopathic medicines in influenza and influenza-like syndromes.''<ref>Andrew Vickers, Claire Smith: ''Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes'', The Cochrane Library, 15.4.2009, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3 [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001957.pub3/abstract abstract]</ref>

Still, the review concluded, that further research was warranted. It was criticized heavily for this conclusion and the review was eventually withdrawn.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588329 WITHDRAWN: Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes.], PubMed</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/homeopathic-thuggery/ Homeopathic Thuggery], Steven Novella, Science-Based Medicine</ref>

The review, however, concluded that further research was warranted. It was criticized heavily for this conclusion and was withdrawn eventually.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588329 WITHDRAWN: Homoeopathic Oscillococcinum for preventing and treating influenza and influenza-like syndromes.], PubMed</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/homeopathic-thuggery/ Homeopathic Thuggery], Steven Novella, Science-Based Medicine</ref>

In August 2011 a class action complaint was filed in California:

In August 2011 a class action complaint was filed in California:

[[category:Company]]

[[category:Company]]

[[category:Homeopathy]]

[[category:Homoeopathy]]