[Ip-health] Chronicle of Higher Education: Medical Students Assail Research Universities Over Drug-Exclusivity Bill

[Ethan Guillen]

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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Medical Students Assail Research Universities Over Drug-Exclusivity Bill

By GOLDIE BLUMENSTYK <goldie.blumenstyk@chronicle.com>

Washington

Two groups that represent tens of thousands of students involved in medical
research are taking the Association of American Universities to task for it=
s
=93unconscionable=94 endorsement of a proposed federal law that would guara=
ntee
drug companies 12 years of exclusivity to sell certain kinds of drugs and
vaccines they develop.

The groups say the association=92s position on so-called follow-on biologic=
s,
or =93biosimilars,=94 puts the universities=92 profit motives ahead of the =
needs
of the public.

The measure will =93dramatically restrict access to affordable medicines an=
d
likely cost consumers and the federal government billions of dollars,=94 sa=
y
the American Medical Student Association and Universities Allied for
Essential Medicines, in a
letter<http://www.essentialmedicine.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/0=
7/20090714-aau-letter-final.pdf>
to
the AAU. A third organization, a consumer group called Essential Action,
also signed onto the letter.

Read the rest here:
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Ethan Guillen
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines
2625 Alcatraz Ave. #180
Berkeley, CA 94705
www.essentialmedicine.org