Ed Silverman has the whole story -- do go read his:
. . . .European drugmakers, in fact, bested US rivals in making medicines available to people in developing countries, although the foundation that runs the project says this lead is shrinking. . .
1. GlaxoSmithKline
2. Merck. . . .
Merck's $3.9 billion
5 comments:
Ivermectin is Merck's drug for river blindness. Mectins are highly toxic drugs used for parasitic infections. They are typically used in animals, horses, cattle, farmed fish and have a variety of class effects. (Cardiac, bone, and other problems). I don't know Merck's actual costs of manufacturing and distribution this drug but I have serious doubts that it is as high as the valuation placed on it by Merck.
It's a good PR move by Merck.
Salmon
Lets try some honest reporting here. To say the US is behind in drug donations is wrong, imho or to say the least the wrong way to look at it. What percent of the top pharma companies, say top 15 or 20 are actually US based anyway. If I recall, there is Bayer, Novartis, GSK, Pfizer, Merck, Hoffman,SA, J&J or something like that. I see most of them are from the EU. So what percent do US pharma donate relative to the EU? Maybe the EU is still ahead, but I'm not sure if that is the case % wise.
Thanks for your thoughts, Anonymous. I suppose -- as Salmon deftly points out -- "honest reporting" might also require a more rigorously-verified calculation of the actual fair-selling price for ivermectin, Merck's river-blindness program drug. . .
as it is certain that the central reason Merck makes its way to No. 2 on the overall list, is due to its whopping $3.75 billion donaiton claim.
To be clear, I think the value of avoiding river blindness is vast, and truly miraculous -- for people of sub-Saharan Africa, especially -- I just think you (Anonymous) are hurriedly rearranging the deckchairs, on Titanic, here.
Namaste
OK, that is nothing but an opinion by Salmon. I don't care if they are giving away asprin, tampons or cherios. A donation is a donation and it should be assumed that has helped someone in need.
My point was that the EU pharmas may not donate more than the US pharmas in relative terms (say as a % of sales) and that the original point that "the US is behind the EU in donatations" may be false.
Namaste, you have access to all the sales $ and donation amounts - why not find out the truth.
Never let it be typed that I don't take my commenters seriously. I'll likely make a few graphics, and cobble this into a new post tomorrow, unless major news breaks on Merck overnight.
From the Merck section of the full-text report, then:
". . . .Merck has three innovative in-house investigative candidates in its pipeline related to the Index Diseases (two compounds for diarrheal diseases and one investigative candidate for lower respiratory tract infec-tions). To address diarrheal diseases, Merck is carrying out a Developing World study of its RotaTeq vaccine in infants up to 12 weeks (currently in phase III clinical trials). Merck is also one of the few companies currently carrying out discovery research for dengue and the only Index 2010 company to carry out discovery research for meningitis. The Index only includes innovative R&D for non-communicable diseases where the primary purpose is to fulfill an unmet need in the ICs, since R&D for non-communicable diseases tends to be conducted primarily for developed country needs. Overall, Merck’s innovative research pipeline is well above average compared to sector peers. . . .
Yet Merck is perhaps most well-known for its long-standing MECTIZAN Donation Program for treatment of river blindness (onchocerciasis) and Elephantitis (lymphatic filariasis). Begun in October 1987, Merck committed to donate MECTIZAN to treat river blindness for as long as required and wherever needed -- until the disease has been eliminated worldwide. Due mainly to Merck’s efforts in this area, transmission of river blind-ness is expected to cease in the Americas by 2012 and Merck and supporting partners plan to achieve 100% geographic coverage for all affected individuals with river blindness by 2015. The program was expanded in 1998 to include another ID -- Elephantitis (lymphatic filariasis) which is treated using Merck’s MECTIZAN in conjunction with GSK’s albendazole. Elephantitis is expected to be eliminated as a public health issue by 2020. To date, Merck has donated 2.5 billion in tablets (worth USD 3.9 billion) and has invested USD 35 million in financial support to date for the program. In line with best practices, Merck has a method for ensuring that donated products reach their targeted countries. For MECTIZAN Merck ensures that donations reach their intended destinations by requiring that a certificate of receipt be signed by the receiving in-country organization, which is above average compared to other companies. . . ."
Credit, where credit is due, Anon.
Namaste
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