Pharmaceutical Technologist - January 2008 - (Page 5)

*Editors comment Pharmaceutical Technologist t would be difficult not to write a column that did not mention the political events currently occurring in the US — namely voting for the candidates to lead the Democrats and Republicans into the 2009 presidential election year. Whoever does succeed George W. Bush as the most powerful leader in the world is safe in the knowledge that they have the backing of the pharmaceutical and health products. According to www.opensecrets.org the candidates have received the following contributions from the industry: ● Hilary Clinton (Dem) — $270000 ● Barack Obama (Dem) — $262000 ● Mitt Romney (Rep) — $260000 ● Rudy Giuliani (Rep) — $140000 ● John McCain (Rep) — $69300. There will be major ramifications for the pharmaceutical industry regardless of who becomes the next president. Take, for example, the following between McCain and Romney, which took place at the Republican debate in New Hampshire: I they’re doing the work of the free market. And are there excesses? I’m sure there are, and we should go after excesses. But they’re an important industry to this country.” Other than showing a split within the Republicans, the exchange highlights McCain’s position as one shifting to re-importation of drugs via Canada. He also wants drug manufacturers to produce generics faster and concentrate on new therapies, adding that: “Pharmaceutical companies must worry less about squeezing additional profits from old medicines by copying the last successful drug and insisting on additional patent protections and focus more on new and innovative medicine.” This goes against the advice from several healthcare bodies, which are worried about counterfeits and litigation. But it’s not just the Republicans who are pursuing the pharmaceutical industry. After she won the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton told voters: “The oil companies, the drug companies, the health insurance companies, the predatory student loan companies have had 7 years of a president who stands up for them. It’s time we had a president who stands up for all of you.” In his concession speech, Barack Obama said: “Our new American majority can end the outrage of unaffordable, unavailable healthcare in our time. We can bring doctors and patients, workers and businesses, Democrats and Republicans together, and we can tell the drug and insurance industry that while they’ll get a seat at the table, they don’t get to buy every chair. Not this time. Not now.” We’ll need to keep an eye on how the industry responds to these comments (it has held its peace so far). If America does decide to open its borders to foreign drugs and change its healthcare stance, there would be serious knock-on effects for the EU and Asia. PT McCain: “Both the attorney general of South Carolina … and the attorney general of Iowa … have sued the pharmaceutical companies because of overcharging of millions of dollars of Medicaid costs to their patients. … How could pharmaceutical companies be able to cover up the cost to the point where nobody knows? Why shouldn't we be able to re-import drugs from Canada? It's because of the power of the pharmaceutical companies.” Romney: “Don’t turn the pharmaceuticals into the big, bad guys.” McCain: “Well, they are.” Romney: “No, actually they’re trying to create products to make us well and make us better, and www.ptemagazine.com 5 http://www.opensecrets.org http://www.ptemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Technologist - January 2008

Pharmaceutical Technologist - January 2008
Contents
Editor's Comment
News
Morpheus
Market Watch
Lagging Japanese Drug R&D
Croatia’s Innovation
Integrating PAT with Biopharmaceutical Development and Manufacture
Q&A

Pharmaceutical Technologist - January 2008