[Ip-health] Howard Dean -- Now a shill for BIO

[Malini Aisola]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/howard-dean----now-a-shil_b_241465.html

Howard Dean -- Now a shill for BIO
By James Love
July 20, 2009

The July 20, 2009 issue of BioCentury has an extensive report on the
"Biosimilar fire Drill." It discusses in detail the lobbying by the
Biotechnology Industry Association (BIO, bio.org) to defeat efforts by
President Obama, OMB, the FTC, Representative Waxman, Senator Brown,
AARP, Public Citizen, PIRG, Consumers Union, KEI, Essential Action, UAEM
and others, to reform regulation of biologic medicines, so there is more
generic competition. (For earlier discussions of the bill, go here or
here).

What is unusual and surprising is the key role of Howard Dean to back an
anti-consumer BIO backed measure in the health reform bill. Excerpts
from the BioCentury report are available here
(http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/07/20/howard-dean-as-a-shill-for-bio-on-biosimilars-bill/).

One interesting bit is how Howard Dean describes his work for BIO:
"long-term and short-term strategic advice to BIO. I do not lobby." But
he is paid to work on Biosimilars for BIO, he wrote an op ed in The Hill
on the topic, and he is talking to members of Congress about the
measure. What exactly would it take to make Howard Dean a lobbyist? A
special badge from the Wizard
of Oz?

      * "In bending political opinion about biosimilars, BIO benefited
from the services of prominent Democrats, most notably former Democratic
National Committee chair and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, and
perennial Democratic presidential campaign manager Joe Trippi, as well
as well-placed lobbying firms."
      * "Dean signed on as "an independent consultant exclusive to the
government affairs practice at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP" in March
2009, according to the law firm. BIO's Joseph told BioCentury McKenna
has a contract to provide "general strategic consulting, messaging
advice, and communications strategy" for the trade association.
      * "In his e-mail to board members, (BIO President & CEO) Greenwood
did not fail to include Dean in his praise. "Our team at BIO, the D.C.
offices of our members, our consultants (now including former Vermont
Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean) did a
magnificent job," he wrote.
      * "Dean has been a great addition to our team," Stephen Sherwin,
chair of BIO's executive committee and health section, told BioCentury.


I asked a few colleagues that they thought of Howard Dean's actions:

Rob Weissman, Essential Action: "Howard Dean would not have done this
for PhRMA, but he's doing it for BIO. BIO has created this propaganda
that it's different, even though they are hardly distinct industries
these days. He could have said no. He could have talked to the critics.
Here is someone who wants to be a central figure in the health care
debate. It's pretty distributing."

Meredith Filak, Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue: "It's sad that he can
do this. It reminds me of Janus, the two headed god. It's two faced. He
has run on taking on big drug companies."

Alan Barber, CPER: "He's supposed to be advocating to make health care
affordable for everyone, but lobbying for an industry group that is
pushing up health care costs up. That's bizarre. It's a shame to see
someone like Dean carrying a torch for those guys."

Ed Mierzwinski, PIRG: "I'm not shocked. I've watched this town for
twenty years. But I'm disappointed that Dr. Howard Dean is taking a paid
side on this, and that someone who was once considered a leading
progressive activist is a lobbyist for powerful entrenched interest. I
wish he was on the other side."

Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America: "Anyone who is against
generics is against the consumer."

Malini Aisola, Knowledge Ecology International: "It's pretty repulsive,
what he's doing."

Anonymous House Staffer: "Nothing surprises me on this bill, but yes,
its pretty disgusting."

My own impression? Washington is more corrupt than I though. Money buys
people I didn't think it could.

A vote in the House on the BIO backed Eshoo Amendment may take place as
early as Wed, in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce mark-up on
the health reform bill.


--
Malini Aisola
Knowledge Ecology International
1621 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20009
malini.aisola@keionline.org|Tel: +1.202.332.2670|Fax: +1.202.332.2673