[e-drug] For a Balanced Debate, Let the Pharmaceutical Industry Speak (2)

["jude ike nwokike" <monkiyke@yahoo.com>]

E-DRUG:  For a Balanced Debate, Let the Pharmaceutical Industry Speak (2)
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The issues here are the following:

1. Pharma is the fastest growing industry; with year 2000 value of $379 billion [amazing growth even with a claimed average cost of developing new drug of $802 million and a 1 in 5,000 chance of a screened compound being approved as medicine]
'One cannot retain high principles and make high profits at the same time-BigPharma has taken its choice...'

2. Lack of corporate responsibility. Are they not barely waking up to that now? Accelerated drop in the price of ARVs, Novartis GDF 500,000 DOTS treatment for 2003-2007, BMS 'secure the future' program, Pfizer 'Diflucan Partnership program'. Would this have come without public outcry?

3. Overexpenditure in Marketing as oppossed to R&D and unwholesome marketing practices [even with IFPMA code we still had recents events with SSRIs and COX-2 inhibitors]

4. Shying away from diseases of the poor
 
In their 2002 study, Environics conducted a survey in 20 Industrialized and Industrializing countries which showed 51% distrust for Global companies [including BigPharma]
 
We should leave BigPharma to fight their battle, we cannot be their advocate. However we can constructively engage them.
 
Pls. note: views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect that of my affliations.
 
Jude Nwokike

[B.Pharm., MSc. Pharmacology]
Senior Program Associate
Centre for Pharmaceutical Management
Management Sciences for Health, Inc.
Office 3G Yang Tze Plaza
351 Sam Nujoma Drive, Klein Windhoek
PO.Box 90027
Windhoek, Namibia
Tel.: +264-61-228016/228616
Fax: +264-61-220361
Cell: 081 295 4811
E-mail: jnwokike@msh.org.na