As Millions Are Denied Medicines, Big Pharma Buries Its Head in the Sand

The report also notes the industry’s insistence that the patent does
not prevent poor people from accessing affordable medicines. Oxfam
says not only is the industry’s view narrow-minded and wrong, but that
the evidence is overwhelming that generic competition is the most
effective and proven method to reduce drug prices.

“When the patent of Pfizer on amlodipine besylate, the active
ingredient of anti-hypertension drug Norvasc expired in June this
year, another amlodipine besylate was introduced in the market costing
only P19.75, cheaper by P55 than Norvasc that costs P74.75,” said
Vitan.

The report concludes by arguing that companies will need to revamp
their approaches on pricing structures, R&D investment and patent
policies in order to serve these markets and make its medicines more
accessible to poor people. Companies should adapt to the realities of
developing country markets because up to 80 per cent of their people
are vulnerable to falling below the poverty line especially if they
have to bear the cost of expensive medicines for long-term treatment.

“The industry is operating in a short-sighted way because it could
gain enormous benefits from emerging markets, including lower research
and development costs and cheaper manufacturing. Yet it continues to
blindly use its same strategies in poor countries. Even today, the
richest 15% of the world consumes over 90% of its pharmaceuticals. At
this rate, both the industry and millions of sick patients are losing
out,” concluded Jeremy Hobbs.

Note: The 12 companies analyzed and interviewed for the purpose of
this report are: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb,
GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis,
Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis and Wyeth.

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