The first article asks why, the second article answers why....................
Two lung disease specialists are accusing Health Canada of shortening some patients' lives, by denying them access to an inexpensive, relatively harmless drug not sold in Canada.
“I am appalled and angry that a federal agency that we fund through our taxes would deny Canadian citizens who are dying of a treatable, infectious disease potentially life-saving medication,” said Dr. David Forrest
In previous years, Health Canada granted several patients special access to the drug, called clofazimine. The doctors said that approach has suddenly changed, for no good reason.
“We had a process in place that was working, for 20 years or so, and now all of a sudden we’re running up against a brick wall,” said Dr. Stephen Field.
The patients have a bacterial lung infection called Mycobacterium avium complex, known as MAC, but are ‘multi-drug resistant.’
"It’s a very uncomfortable way to slowly pass away," said Field.
One of Forrest’s patients, Dean Robertson, has been treated with several drugs since 2010, but none worked. Forrest wants to give him clofazimine — which has been widely used for leprosy — to treat his lung disease.
“If I don’t get this drug I am going to possibly die from this infection,” said Robertson, who was forced to stop working because of his illness.
Clofazimine is widely available in developing countries, but is not approved for sale in the U.S. or Canada, because the drug company Novartis hasn’t applied for approval.
“To get drugs approved requires big support from the pharmaceutical companies and they will only do it if there is a realistic possibility of them making profit,” said Field.
more
Health Canada blocks dying patients from access to drug - British Columbia - CBC News
Here's your answer...........And, to the Politicians, the Money has spoken..........
Obama Administration, Congress Intensify Opposition To Global Generic Drug Industry
In January, India's Supreme Court rejected a patent on a Novartis leukemia drug called Gleevec (or Glivec), clearing the way for cheaper generic production. The active ingredient in Gleevec has been available for years, but Novartis filed for a patent on an updated version available in pill form. India's highest court turned down the application on the grounds that the delivery format did not constitute a legitimate innovation.
Gleevec is protected by multiple U.S. patents, and costs upwards of $75,000 a year domestically. In India, where annual per capita income is about $1,400, Novartis was charging about $31,000 a year for the medication. The generic version legalized by the court's decision costs around $2,100.
Last year, India also permitted a generic manufacturer to produce a cheaper version of another cancer drug patented by Bayer AG. Bayer was charging $5,000 a month for the drug, while only servicing about 2 percent of the population that needed it. The generic version was priced at $157 a month.
By securing secondary patents, as Novartis tried to do with Gleevec, drug companies can effectively extend monopolies on their medicines beyond the standard 20-year window required by World Trade Organization treaties. The practice is known as "evergreening," and is frowned upon by the World Health Organization.
more
Obama Administration, Congress Intensify Opposition To Global Generic Drug Industry
Two lung disease specialists are accusing Health Canada of shortening some patients' lives, by denying them access to an inexpensive, relatively harmless drug not sold in Canada.
“I am appalled and angry that a federal agency that we fund through our taxes would deny Canadian citizens who are dying of a treatable, infectious disease potentially life-saving medication,” said Dr. David Forrest
In previous years, Health Canada granted several patients special access to the drug, called clofazimine. The doctors said that approach has suddenly changed, for no good reason.
“We had a process in place that was working, for 20 years or so, and now all of a sudden we’re running up against a brick wall,” said Dr. Stephen Field.
The patients have a bacterial lung infection called Mycobacterium avium complex, known as MAC, but are ‘multi-drug resistant.’
"It’s a very uncomfortable way to slowly pass away," said Field.
One of Forrest’s patients, Dean Robertson, has been treated with several drugs since 2010, but none worked. Forrest wants to give him clofazimine — which has been widely used for leprosy — to treat his lung disease.
“If I don’t get this drug I am going to possibly die from this infection,” said Robertson, who was forced to stop working because of his illness.
Clofazimine is widely available in developing countries, but is not approved for sale in the U.S. or Canada, because the drug company Novartis hasn’t applied for approval.
“To get drugs approved requires big support from the pharmaceutical companies and they will only do it if there is a realistic possibility of them making profit,” said Field.
more
Health Canada blocks dying patients from access to drug - British Columbia - CBC News
Here's your answer...........And, to the Politicians, the Money has spoken..........
Obama Administration, Congress Intensify Opposition To Global Generic Drug Industry
In January, India's Supreme Court rejected a patent on a Novartis leukemia drug called Gleevec (or Glivec), clearing the way for cheaper generic production. The active ingredient in Gleevec has been available for years, but Novartis filed for a patent on an updated version available in pill form. India's highest court turned down the application on the grounds that the delivery format did not constitute a legitimate innovation.
Gleevec is protected by multiple U.S. patents, and costs upwards of $75,000 a year domestically. In India, where annual per capita income is about $1,400, Novartis was charging about $31,000 a year for the medication. The generic version legalized by the court's decision costs around $2,100.
Last year, India also permitted a generic manufacturer to produce a cheaper version of another cancer drug patented by Bayer AG. Bayer was charging $5,000 a month for the drug, while only servicing about 2 percent of the population that needed it. The generic version was priced at $157 a month.
By securing secondary patents, as Novartis tried to do with Gleevec, drug companies can effectively extend monopolies on their medicines beyond the standard 20-year window required by World Trade Organization treaties. The practice is known as "evergreening," and is frowned upon by the World Health Organization.
more
Obama Administration, Congress Intensify Opposition To Global Generic Drug Industry