I agree with you, the size and history of the company seems unlikely to succeed but that is really just in reference to the way it typically is done from a BP point of view. If you look at the actual step required to get a drug to market, their is no requirement to being a BP. Many assume that BP is somehow a very efficient machine that can do this easily, but I think anyone that has worked in a large organization knows that is not true.

As for the FDA being supported by BP, that is simple to explain. Trials are paid by the sponsor and most trials are by BP, so obviously a large amount of the funds coming in to the FDA are from BP. If BP wanted to influence the FDA and make our lives difficult, they could have many times in the past and we would not be where we are at. Sometimes things are difficult but to assume it is because of some conspiracy is a stretch.