Copyright 2000 P.G. Publishing Co.
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
September 19, 2000, Tuesday, SOONER EDITION
SECTION: HEALTH, Pg. F-10, YOUR LETTERS
LENGTH: 185 words
HEADLINE:
ABOUT THE TAXOL FIGHT
BYLINE: EDWARD J. FABRICK III;
SHADYSIDE
BODY:
I am writing in regard to
the Sept. 10 article in the Post-Gazette, "Stakes high for consumers in
patent fight over cancer drug."
The
article was written about a governmentally developed drug,
Taxol, used in treating breast and ovarian cancers. The drug's
manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., is attempting to extend the
patent to stop the manufacture and sales of a competing generic
version of Taxol.
This seems to be a criminal act due to the number of
people without health insurance or the means to pay for treatment. An
extension of the patent will keep treatment of breast and
ovarian cancers too expensive for some patients.
Furthermore, to allow a
pharmaceutical company to profit as it has because of a governmental discovery
cannot be in the best interest of the people.
The solution is to
deregulate the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in a way that would allow a more
open market and a chance for competition among companies.
EDWARD J.
FABRICK III
Shadyside
The writer is a student in the Health Law
certificate program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
LOAD-DATE: September 20, 2000
