Medicijn: A Journey Through the Pharmaceutical Industry

Medicijn takes you into a world of pills, injections, money, and love. Firma Mes, in collaboration with writer Maurits de Bruijn, explores the pharmaceutical industry and what it means to be a patient within it. The story follows young Jeffrey's journey after his hepatitis C diagnosis in 1999. Using interviews, we peek behind the scenes of the pharmaceutical company holding the expensive yet life-saving drug. Key figures in the drug development chain are presented: from idealistic lab workers to savvy investors. Simultaneously, we witness the love story between Jeffrey and his partner Max as Jeffrey's health declines. When the drug becomes available in the Netherlands in 2014, a significant societal debate arises about the price. How much is a human life worth? Who will bear the cost? Will Jeffrey receive the medication in time? This performance is a mix of fiction and documentary, accompanied by mesmerizing live music from Marc Alberto, and features the sharp humor for which Firma Mes is known. It's a profound glimpse into the world hidden behind our medications.