Sunday, July 17, 2005

Making medicine available

Based on this story, let's give due credit to Apotex for giving public need some role in its production levels:
Canada's largest generic pharmaceutical company, Apotex Inc., wants to produce a thyroid drug that is no longer available to cancer patients in Canada, even though it's made here. And Apotex hopes to put it on the market at half of its former price...

"We are wholly Canadian-owned and part of our philosophy is to do what's best for this country," said (Apotex's CEO)..."I don't expect the volume will ever be there for this drug but when (Dr. Paul) Walfish phones, I feel a duty."

Naturally, there likely will be some market benefits - the article points out that thyroid cancer (which the drug treats) is spreading faster than any other type of cancer. But those suffering from it now and in the near future could be a lot better off if Apotex begins production.

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