AIDS Drugs in Africa: Glaxo's Term Paper

-- but Glaxo contends that Cipla violates the companies' patents and international intellectual- property agreements"(Boseley, 2002). In moral defense of its actions, Glaxo's CEO, told shareholders "Some people might see patents as the obstacle to getting medicines to patients in poorer countries. Nothing could be further from the truth....Even in countries where low cost generics are available millions of people are dying every year because they cannot obtain low cost generic treatments for malaria, TB and other common diseases. We should also remember that 95% of the medicines on WHO's Essential Drugs List are not covered by patent protection anywhere in the world, let alone in developing countries, many of which have no effective intellectual property laws" (Samson, 2001).

Still, a recent scandal revealing that "nearly $18 million worth of reduced-price HIV drugs intended for impoverished Africans have been intercepted by profiteers and shipped back to Europe to be sold at marked-up prices, according to a current investigation," which meant "nearly a quarter of the supply of the antiretroviral drug Combivir intended for African HIV / AIDS patients has not reached them in the last year" has not helped boost Glaxo's credibility or image ("HIV Drugs for Africa Diverted to Europe, 2002, CDC). Moreover, despite Glaxo's anxiety at setting a bad precedent, the target market can hardly exercise much choice in the matter -- if they cannot afford the drugs they will die. Health care advocates in Africa contend that "Poor countries should be guaranteed the right to make their own generic drugs and import them from elsewhere" (Boseley, 2002). If Glaxo does not cut its prices and wins the legal patent war, it is hard to see how the innovative medication it has derived will benefit anyone, even Glaxo.

Works Cited

Boseley, Sarah (6 Sept. 2002). "Glaxo cuts AIDS drug prices in Africa." The Guardian. Retrieved 20 Jan 2007 at http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,786919,00.html

Glaxo: Cheap AIDS drugs not enough." (25 May 2001) BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1351153.stm

HIV Drugs for Africa Diverted to Europe. (3 Oct 2002). Centers for Disease Control.

International News. Retrieved 20 Jan 2007 at http://www.thebody.com/cdc/news_updates_archive/oct3_02/hiv_drugs.html

Samson, Kurt Samson. (17 Mar 2001). "Glaxo says no more cut in AIDS drug price."

United Press International. Retrieved 20 Jan 2007 at http://www.aegis.com/news/upi/2001/UP010313.html

Schoofs, Mark. (1 Dec 2000) "Glaxo Attempts to Block Access to Generic AIDS

Drugs in Ghana.The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 20 Jan 2007 at http://survivreausida.net/a4596-glaxo-attempts-to-block-access-to-generic-ai.html