[Ip-health] my questions to GSK

[Ellen Shaffer]

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Thanks again to all of you who responded to my query about GSK.  The
notes from the meeting are supposed to be distributed publicly
(without attribution to speakers) so I'll transmit, with comments,
when I get them. I did not learn anything surprising. But I did
forward the follow-up questions below to their corp. responsibility
officer, Julia King, and of course will report if I get an answer:

1. Does GSK have a formal position in opposition to TRIPS-plus
proposals and policies? Would you kindly provide any statements and
documents by GSK on this issue?
2. What is the rationale for GSK's invoking TRIPS-Plus measures like
data exclusivity to prevent generic competition in a poor country
like Guatemala, where GSK has registered for 15 years data protection
for  Agenerase, an HIV drug; and for 5 years data protection for
Avandamet, for Type 2 diabetes?
3. Will GSK publish on line patent claims and registration status by
country? This information is particularly difficult to access in
middle- and low-income countries.

Best, Ellen

Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD MPH, Co-Director
Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH)
Thoreau Center for Sustainability
P.O. Box 29586
San Francisco, CA 94129-0586

phone: 415-922-6204
email: ershaffer@cpath.org
mobile: 415-680-4603
www.cpath.org
fax: 415-885-4091
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