Niveus Pharmaceuticals

Niveus Pharmaceuticals is a key part of Lucifer's plan to destroy humanity using the Croatoan virus. This plan depends entirely on Pestilence and Brady, and isn't fully revealed until 5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight.

Episodes

5.20 The Devil You Know

Pestilence has begun spreading his swine flu epidemic, which has caused a nationwide panic and a surge in demand for swine flu vaccines. At the Niveus labs, technicians are testing a flu vaccine, when a demon disguised as a janitor injects one of them with the Croatoan virus. The technician, now infected, kills his partner. After watching all this, the janitor says "Looks like it works."

During a company board meeting, Brady berates Niveus executives, in particular a man named Mitchell, for not producing the vaccine fast enough, citing the ongoing swine flu epidemic. Before his subsequent meeting with Mitchell, Brady is reading a company memo on his laptop. It reads:

URGENT INTERNAL MEMO Details About the NIVEUS 432 TM Vaccine Distribution Program PRODUCTION FAILS SHORT OF EXPECTED PRODUCTION Initial supplies have been prioritized for distribution to the selected health care providers who have favored status to Nevius International. It has also been prioritized for Preferred Status Insurance Companies with direct investment roles associated with Nevius International and its associates. Nevius believes this targeted distribution approach, using providers who are associated with Nevius, is the most effective way to ensure the fiscal stability of Nevius International. – Memo, 5.20 The Devil You Know

Brady flatters, then kills, Mitchell, and contacts Pestilence using a goblet of blood ritual. He informs him that the results of the vaccine trials are going well. He tries to downplay Pestilence's expectations for how quickly the vaccine can be produced and distributed, but Pestilence isn't having any of that and urges him to do better.

Sam kills Brady after he gives up Pestilence's location.

5.21 Two Minutes to Midnight

After they have succeeded in getting Pestilence's ring, Crowley shows Sam and Dean a newspaper article on Niveus rushing production of its new swine flu vaccine, and tells them Brady was vice president of distribution at the company. With this information, Sam and Dean figure out Lucifer and Pestilence's plan:

Sam: So Pestilence was spreading swine flu.
Dean: Yeah, but not just for giggles. That was step one. Step two is the vaccine. You think...?
Crowley: I know. I'll stake my reputation that vaccine is chock full of Grade A farm-fresh Croatoan virus.
Sam: Simultaneous countrywide distribution. That's part of the plan.
Crowley: They don't get to be Horsemen for nothing. So you boys better stock up on... well, everything. This time next Thursday, we'll all be living in Zombieland.

Sam, Bobby and Castiel head to Niveus headquarters to stop the company from distributing the vaccine. According to Bobby, the original plan was for them to go inside, plant C4 plastic explosives and pull the fire alarm to force everyone inside to evacuate. This plan is abandoned when trucks unexpectedly begin leaving. When the demons become aware that they are under attack, they lock down all the doors and infect some of the human workers with the Croatoan virus. Bobby, Sam and Castiel kill the demons and Croatoan-infected zombies inside the warehouse using their guns and Ruby's knife, then free the other humans still left inside. After they're done, Bobby tells them they still need to commit their "act of domestic terrorism." Although it is not shown, it is implied that they were successful at destroying the vaccine samples using the plastic explosives they had brought.

Trivia

• Niveus is a Latin word and means white or snowy.