Big Pharma and the Middlemen Who Profit $$$ | Mass Torts with Mike Papantonio

Are billion-dollar secrets hiding in plain sight every time you pick up a prescription?

While most of us trust the price tags and availability of life-saving medications, who’s really pulling the strings—and why aren’t these stories front-page news? In an era when legal battles against corporate giants can change lives and headlines, we need transparency and we need it now.

This week on Cut to the Chase: Podcast, we’re diving deep into the explosive world of pharmaceutical litigation with Mike Papantonio, legendary trial attorney, legal commentator, and acclaimed author. Mike’s latest novel “The Middleman” pulls back the curtain on the mysterious—and disturbingly powerful—pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) who are quietly shaping the cost and availability of vital medicines.

The PBM industry is a $300 billion behemoth—raising medication costs across the board by up to 50%. Most Americans, including seasoned professionals, have no idea these gatekeepers exist.

Tune in to hear how real courtroom drama translates into gripping fiction, what’s really driving up drug prices, and what lawyers must know to make a transformative impact—financially and socially—through mass tort litigation.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The shocking influence and unchecked power of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—and how they’re raising drug prices, taking kickbacks, and operating as a modern-day mob

• Insider details from landmark cases (tobacco, opioids, human trafficking, Wall Street scams) and how those stories shape Mike’s writing

• The criminal-like conduct behind life-saving drug pricing, vertical integration, and extortion in the pharma industry

• How whistleblowers drive 40% of mass tort cases—why they matter and how law firms can support them

• Tips for trial lawyers and young attorneys on building a meaningful, profitable practice—the legacy case approach

• A sneak peek at Mike’s upcoming book, “Death in Arcadia,” exposing corruption and abuse in America’s reform schools

Key Takeaways:

• Look Beyond the Headlines: Mainstream media often misses (or avoids) big stories; legal professionals must dig deeper and use insider knowledge to expose injustice.

• Leverage Whistleblower Potential: Proactively support and educate potential whistleblowers—40% of mass torts begin with insider revelations.

• Consider Legacy Cases: Don’t just chase profits—choose cases that have lasting impact and can become the cornerstone of your reputation.

• Educate Through Storytelling: Use creative outlets—novels, blogs, podcasts—to inform and inspire both the public and fellow attorneys.

• Adapt to Changing Legal Landscapes: Stay alert to new threats—PBMs, antitrust schemes, white-collar criminality—that need legal champions willing to take action.

 

Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss our next deep dive on Cut to The Chase: Podcast with Gregg Goldfarb!

 

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Resources:

• Buy “The Middleman: A Legal Thriller” by Mike Papantonio: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648211054

• Connect with Mike Papantonio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikepapantonio 

• Visit his website - Ring of Fire: https://trofire.com

• Subscribe to his YouTube channel - America’s Lawyer: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRingofFire 

• Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rofpap

• Learn more about Mike’s legal career: https://levinlaw.com/our_team/mike-papantonio 

 

This episode was produced and brought to you by Reignite Media.