Washington, D.C.-October 25, 2001-The German-based Bayer corporation has
prevailed upon the Department of Health and Human Services to put its
interests before the safety of U.S. citizens in the Cipro deal struck
this week by Secretary Tommy Thompson, according to the SPAN Coalition.
"The deal puts Americans at risk so Bayer can avoid competition," stated
Tim Fuller, Gray Panthers Executive Director and SPAN founder. "At some
point, consumers and taxpayers are going to demand accountability for
the misfeasance at the Department of Health & Human Services that is
putting them at risk."
Thompson announced Wednesday that Bayer has agreed to provide the
government with up to 300 million doses of Cipro for discounted prices
in return for barring generic production. Bayer says it can produce 200
million pills within 60 days, though that is only enough to provide 12
million citizens with 16 Cipro pills each. Many patients exposed to
Anthrax require 60-day regimens.
"In a nation of 350 million people facing an unknown threat, that leaves
an enormous number without access to the best known treatment," Fuller
stated. "Leaders at HHS and FDA are making it clear that they cannot
stand up to pharmaceutical companies."
SPAN is concerned that the Cipro deal follows a trend by HHS and FDA
officials to avoid responsibility for critical decisions before the
agency that pit consumer interests against those of the pharmaceutical
industry. A number of pharmaceutical companies have taken advantage of
the agencies to prevent access to generic versions of their products.
For example, consumer access to generic versions of the critical heart
drug Tiazac and ulcer medicine Prilosec is blocked because the FDA has
allowed manufacturers of the drugs to submit false or misleading
statements, or to question the agency's expertise. The Secretary of HHS
and FDA leaders have refused to properly intervene in the cases, despite
pleas from members of Congress that they watch for and reject such
abuses. They also have refused to intervene to protect the public in
similar cases involving Glucophage (diabetes), BuSpar (anxiety), and
Taxol (breast cancer), despite court rulings in some cases that the
agency should exercise its authority to act.
"It is one thing to criticize the profiteering of the drug companies,"
Fuller stated. "But it's even more important to demand accountability
from agency officials who are allowing it."
SPAN is a national coalition of 110 senior and consumer advocacy groups
founded by the Gray Panthers to ensure that Americans have greater
access to affordable medicine. Visit www.SPANcoalition.org