Methodologies

Methodology for reports released June 2008 and April 2007

Definitions

The category “pharmaceutical and biomedicine manufacturers” includes all companies whose primary business is manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and biomedicines, as well as their trade groups. The category “medical device manufactures” includes all companies whose primary business is manufacturing medical devices, as well as their trade associations. The “other health product manufacturers” category includes all companies that manufactures health products not included in the above two categories.

Lobbying

Lobbying figures for this report were taken from the Center for Public Integrity's lobbying database. They are based on companies identified by Center researchers as part of the "pharmaceutical and health products" industry category. More information on the methodology

The total numbers reflect filings registered and posted at the Senate Office of Public Records website (link sopr.senate.gov) between Jan 1, 1998 and Oct 16, 2006, except for the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and the two trade groups (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and Biotechnology Industry Organization) where the center analyzed filings posted between Jan 1, 1998 and March 1, 2007.

Methodology for reports released April 2006

State lobbying data

Center researchers gathered lobbying information via Web sites, state records and dozens of telephone calls. The analysis focused primarily on expenditures by pharmaceutical manufacturers and their trade associations. Findings represent the Center's best effort to identify lobby spending by the industry, but totals should be considered conservative because many states' weak disclosure requirements allow activity to go unreported.

State campaign contributions

The Center obtained its database of industry campaign contributions from the Institute on Money in State Politics, based in Helena, Mont. To provide Center staff with contribution data, the Institute summarized the forms filed with state authorities in calendar years 2001-2004 that it identified as those of contributors with an economic interest in the pharmaceutical and health products industries.

The Center refined the data by omitting retailers and other companies with a primary business interest other than pharmaceutical manufacturing. (Example: Allergan Inc. produces Botox, but its primary business is eye care and skin care product sales; it therefore was omitted from the data sample.) Listings for individuals who did not have a drug maker specifically listed in the employer field of a contribution form were also removed to prevent the accidental inclusion of donors with names similar to those with a stated interested in the pharmaceutical industry.

States' election cycles vary greatly; differences (such as elections held in odd-number years or at greater intervals than the federal standard) can make it difficult to compare contribution patterns between states. Because of those challenges and other variations in how candidates are required to report donations received, the Center calculated totals by calendar year in which contribution forms were filed instead of by election cycle. For more information about the election procedures of individual states, visit the Web site of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

The Institute on Money in State Politics is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that compiles and reports on data related to campaign finance in state government. More information on the group can be found at its Web site, www.followthemoney.org. The Institute also provides an in-depth explanation of its methodology.

Methodology for the reports released July 2005

How we arrived at the top 20 pharmaceutical corporations

The Center for Public Integrity selected 20 top corporations based on global sales figures provided to us by IMS Health, a pharmaceutical industry information solutions provider. The figures were for the entirety of 2004. A majority of these companies produce brand-name drugs; Teva is the only company which primarily produces generic drugs.

Total global sales for the pharmaceutical industry for 2004 were $550 billion. The top five companies, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi-aventis, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck, hold nearly a third — 30 percent — of the global pharmaceutical market.

Lobbying

Lobbying figures for this report were taken from the Center for Public Integrity's lobbying database. They are based on companies identified by Center researchers as part of the "pharmaceutical and health products" industry category. More information on the methodology.

Federal campaign contributions

Information on federal campaign contributions was provided by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The group's Web site address is www.crp.org.

Additional research into soft money PAC and employee contributions for the top 20 companies and their trade groups was conducted by Center for Public Integrity researchers, who evaluated data provided by the Federal Election Commission.

State campaign contributions

Figures for state campaign contributions came from the Institute on Money in State Politics, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that researches and documents campaign finance at the state level. The Institute's Web site address is www.followthemoney.org.

Contributions to "527" organizations

Data on contributions to political nonprofit groups known as "527" organizations came from the Center for Public Integrity project "Silent Partners." Information on the project's methodology.

Officials-turned-lobbyists

In order to determine the number of former government employees now registered as federal lobbyists, the Center examined thousands of professional biographies posted on the Web sites of the top 250 lobbying firms. Although not all of the lobbying firms provided biographies, the majority did post detailed professional histories of their employees. This research was supplemented by a review of the federal lobbying disclosure forms filed with the U.S. Senate Office of Public Records. Those proved less useful than biographies, however, because not all former government positions are required to be disclosed on the forms.