PHM-Exch> Lancet editorial on pharma influence on the development of new drugs

[Claudio Schuftan]

from:<fannie.upham at gmail.com>
From: remed <c.bruneton at remed.org>
http://download.thelancet.com/flatcontentassets/pdfs/S0140673609621231.pdf

also in
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/12/09/confidential-documents-released-fr
om-who-rd-finance-group-pharmaceutical-industry/<http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/12/09/confidential-documents-released-fr%0Aom-who-rd-finance-group-pharmaceutical-industry/>

and  http://www.msfaccess.org/main/access-patents/make-it-happen-campaign/



http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/12/09/confidential-documents-released-fr
om-who-rd-finance-group-pharmaceutical-industry/<http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/12/09/confidential-documents-released-fr%0Aom-who-rd-finance-group-pharmaceutical-industry/>


E-DRUG: Lancet editorial: Drug development for neglected diseases: pharma's
influence
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Last week it was known that confidential documents from the WHO
Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and
Intellectual Property (IGWG) had leaked to the IFPMA. IFPMA published their
comments to the documents, expressing how pleased they were, on their
website. Below is an editorial in this week's Lancet and a piece from
Ip-watch which found the documents in Wikileaks. Copied as fair use. KM]

http://download.thelancet.com/flatcontentassets/pdfs/S0140673609621231.pdf

Drug development for neglected diseases: pharma's influence

The pharmaceutical industry's latest attempt to sabotage the work of
the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation
and Intellectual Property - commonly referred to as IGWG reached a
new low last week when the non-governmental  organisation,
Intellectual Property Watch, noticed two  privileged IGWG draft
documents and an analysis of the  drafts by the International
Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) on
Wikileaks, a website that anonymously publishes sensitive information.
This unfortunate situation is a double blow to the member states,
public health advocates, and to non-governmental organisations that
have strived to make research and development for neglected diseases a
feasible reality. Not only has the IFPMA blatantly served its own
interests by examining and discussing documents that, according to
WHO, it was not supposed to have, but also the draft report falls
pathetically short of the strong, decisive plan necessary -ironically,
mostly thanks to the influence of the pharmaceutical industry.

The leaked draft report lists the innovative ideas for drug research
and development least likely and most likely to work. Those fighting
to prevent deaths from neglected diseases will be disappointed.
Several of the much supported proposals, such as prize funds and an
R&D Treaty, have been deemed ineffective. Unsurprisingly, the IFPMA
thinks that the draft report is fair to industry's concerns, but appears
wary of UNITAID's
proposed patent pool, a drug-purchasing mechanism currently supported
by an international campaign.

The drug industry should no longer be allowed to hold the poor people
of the world to ransom. After this latest incident, perhaps it is time
for another global public outcry (just like in 2001 when 39 drug
companies took the South African Government to court over its use of
generic drugs) to protest at the tactics used by the pharmaceutical
industry. History has not yet drawn a line under innovative research
and development for neglected diseases. There is still time to put the
health needs of poor people first in upcoming meetings to discuss the
draft IGWG proposals. But a bold WHO and UNITAID are essential.
Buckling under pressure is not an option.

For more on the leaked documents see http://www.ip- watch.org/weblog/
2009/12/09/ <http://watch.org/weblog/%0A2009/12/09/> con?dential-documents-
released-from-who-rd-?nance-
group-pharmaceutical-industry/

For more on the drug industry's influence on the IGWG process see
Editorial Lancet 2007; 370: 1666

For more on the UNITAID patent pool proposal see
Editorial Lancet 2009; 374: 266

For more on the patent pool campaign see
http://www.msfaccess.org/main/access-
 patents/make-it-happen- campaign/

Published Online
December 15, 2009
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)62123-1
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