Patient Group to Vasella: Watch Your Mouth
1 CommentBy Ed Silverman // January 31st, 2007 // 11:59 am
The organization that’s fighting Novartis over its Gleevec patent in India has reportedly sent a letter to Daniel Vasella, the drugmaker’s ceo, complaining that some of his recent remarks were “defamatory statements and insinuations.”
And the drugmaker may get sued for $500,000 in damages.
A news report about this step by the Cancer Patients AIDS Association, which is based in Mumbai, is being circulated on the Internet by various activist groups, although the CPAA’s web site has nothing about its action.
In any event, the group is angry Vasella reportedly alleged that it’s a front for generic drugmakers. The remark puts CPAA, which denies accepting any money, in an “embarrassing position,” according to a notice referred to in the e-mails being circulated.
There is a bit of irony here, isn’t there? Big pharma is regularly criticized for quietly backing patient advocacy groups. So it’s interesting to see the ceo of a big drugmaker level the same charge when it’s convenient.
As they say, it takes one to know one.
[tags]Daniel Vasella, Gleevec, India, Novartis, Patents[/tags]
he knows
“There is bit of irony here..” not only that most big pharma co’s are the biggest generics producers. In fact, Novartis IS the biggest. Sandoz is the name of N’s generic co. and was used for over a century for one of the best and most decent pharma co. when they were ethical and decent. That is an irony for sure, Novartis the biggest generic maker, uses the name of one of the most decent ethical/brand name pharma co. is fighting the “generics” that would go to the most needy. On top of it this fight is lead by a medical doctor who took a Hypocritical oath, to do no harm FIRST. Well the Hypocrits of today are REAL Hypocrits. How abot it Doc. V?
ps. the big pharma never comments or admitts anything. Only hard evidence in the court of law can (actually might) bring them down.