AR> But the U.S. government has said it will not purchase AR> antivirals that aren't licensed for AR> use by the Food and Drug Administration. In a speech last AR> week, Michael Leavitt, secretary AR> of HHS, said the U.S. "supports intellectual property and will defend the importance of AR> patent laws." The EU and the WHO can waive patents, and I believe they will, so the US may be on its own. Meanwhile, the United States government -- which has been AR> unbelievably slow and incompetent at even addressing this AR> matter until the last few days -- that's overcomplimentary: the UK govt has promised enough vaccine for the entire population and has "sleeping contracts" with companies who'll work on it -- that interested me; presumably it sensed the wave of scepticism and dissent re availability of the vaccine to the privileged only. The US still only has plans to vaccinate 20 million people. (And the money Bush is asking for seems rather a lot.) (meanwhile a company in Hungary has advanced so far towards one -- that can easily and rapidly be modified as the exact nature of a mutated virus becomes clear -- that it's almost certain to win the race: but it's said it doesn't expect to be able to hold the rights come a pandemic) Thursday, November 3, 2005, 5:49:45 PM, Andreas Ramos wrote: AR> Okay, folks... Andy is right about Pharma. Here's an item from Dan Gillmor's blog: AR> The Wall Street Journal is running a story that begins this way: AR> Recent, surprising reports that generic Tamiflu can be made quickly and easily may have AR> important implications for the global supply of the drug, AR> which is seen as a hedge against a AR> bird-flu pandemic. AR> The reports also raise questions about why Roche Holding AG, Tamiflu's maker, said it AR> would take years for its rivals to copy the drug. AR> In other words: To protect its market, Roche has been grossly misleading us. If Tamiflu AR> helps reduce the outbreak that is coming, it'll save a lot of lives. Roche, resisting AR> generic manufacturing of the drug, apparently would rather AR> dissemble than take the risk that AR> other nations won't wait for a single company to produce AR> enough -- something Roche doesn't AR> seem interested in doing itself. Meanwhile, the United States government -- which has been AR> unbelievably slow and incompetent at even addressing this AR> matter until the last few days -- AR> has made absolutely clear what the priority will be: AR> protecting profits, not lives. Near the AR> end of the story: AR> But the U.S. government has said it will not purchase AR> antivirals that aren't licensed for AR> use by the Food and Drug Administration. In a speech last AR> week, Michael Leavitt, secretary AR> of HHS, said the U.S. "supports intellectual property and will defend the importance of AR> patent laws." AR> "We're resolved to work through the FDA to accelerate those licensing arrangements and AR> hope to see, at some point in time, the supply of the drug added," Mr. Leavitt said. AR> At some point in time? When this pandemic starts, there will not be any time to spare. AR> Remember what Leavitt said here. The Bush administration will defend patents before it AR> defends your life. -- mailto:judithevans001@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html