Industry Focus Paper Spells Out R&D-Based Pharmaceutical Sector's Contribution To Improving Global Health

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 28 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) has published a paper, "Principal Focus and Actions of the Research-Based Pharmaceutical Industry in Contributing to Global Health", which documents the different ways in which the R&D pharmaceutical industry contributes to improving global health, with particular reference to poor populations in developing countries.

Fred Hassan, President of the IFPMA, Chairman and CEO of Schering-Plough, commented: "In addition to its unique role as creator of innovative new medicines and vaccines, the R&D pharmaceutical industry also undertakes a wide range of other activities to help improve health in developing countries. While some voices are calling for us to do more, without necessarily knowing much about us or what we do, the Global Initiative To Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases announced recently by United States President George W. Bush explicitly refers to the major contribution the industry already makes in this area. Our "Focus and Action" paper sets out what we believe can reasonably and sustainably be expected of the industry with regard to improving global health. As we continue to expand our activities in this area, we also invite our governmental and other partners to give us their observations."

"Our paper looks at three types of contributions by industry," Mr. Hassan continued. "The first is what we do in the course of fulfilling our primary role, of developing and marketing new medicines. This is complemented by our activities specifically designed to help improve access in developing countries, to our medicines and to other aspects of health care. Finally, it looks at the broad range of activities and actions we undertake in pursuit of the goal of good corporate governance."

"We believe that a wider and better understanding of what the industry does in these areas and its reasons for doing so will contribute to a more focused and meaningful debate about how to strengthen efforts to improve health in developing countries. On the other hand, if the industry's actions and concerns are not taken into consideration in such discussions, there is a risk of adopting policies which may, at the least, be suboptimal, or, at the worst, may inadvertently jeopardize the sector's ability to continue delivering a stream of innovative new medicines." Mr. Hassan concluded: "And there is no doubt that society needs more new medicines, to improve on existing treatments and to address diseases for which there is still no effective remedy."

The IFPMA paper "Principal Focus and Actions of the Research-Based Pharmaceutical Industry in Contributing to Global Health" can be accessed on the IFPMA website, at http://www.ifpma.org/Issues/GlobalHealth.

About the IFPMA

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation representing national industry associations and companies from both developed and developing countries. Member companies of the IFPMA are research-based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine companies.

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations