ViroPharma

ViroPharma didn't want to wait until its drugs were finished to start making money, so instead it bought some already approved ones. The biopharmaceutical development firm discovers drugs to combat viral infections and other serious diseases. To finance its development, the company markets the antibiotic Vancocin for treating conditions of C. difficile, Staphylococcus aureus and other hospital-related infections. It also markets Cinryze, a drug made from human plasma to combat hereditary angiodema (HAE, a potentially fatal genetic disease that causes swelling of the skin or hives). ViroPharma distributes its products through wholesalers and specialty pharmacies in the US and Europe.