Abbott is really taking a hit these days.
First, the military junta in Thailand that deposed of the Prime Minister, declared martial law and suspended the constitution has announced it would issue compulsory licenses for Abbott’s Kaletra, thereby violating World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations. While WTO regs gives countries the option to grant compulsory licenses in times of national emergency, this isn’t one of them. Abbott is powerless to stop the compulsory licensing of its products.
With the Thai government holding the company hostage and looking down the barrel of the gun, the company is refusing to register its products in the country. Frankly, what other choice do they have? It’s like the guy who tries to rob you for your watch and you know he’s going to shoot you anyway.
Meanwhile, Abbott is being criticized on the homefront by abbottsgreed.com, a wiki launched by activist groups such as Health Gap and Students for Global AIDS Campaign, who are criticizing the company and trying to pressure it into giving its products away.
Abbott has yet to take any kind of stand. No press release. No media statement. No posting on its website. Ed at Pharmalot makes the point that they are losing the public relations war. But it seems like the Abbott folks haven’t even shown up.
First, the military junta in Thailand that deposed of the Prime Minister, declared martial law and suspended the constitution has announced it would issue compulsory licenses for Abbott’s Kaletra, thereby violating World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations. While WTO regs gives countries the option to grant compulsory licenses in times of national emergency, this isn’t one of them. Abbott is powerless to stop the compulsory licensing of its products.
With the Thai government holding the company hostage and looking down the barrel of the gun, the company is refusing to register its products in the country. Frankly, what other choice do they have? It’s like the guy who tries to rob you for your watch and you know he’s going to shoot you anyway.
Meanwhile, Abbott is being criticized on the homefront by abbottsgreed.com, a wiki launched by activist groups such as Health Gap and Students for Global AIDS Campaign, who are criticizing the company and trying to pressure it into giving its products away.
Abbott has yet to take any kind of stand. No press release. No media statement. No posting on its website. Ed at Pharmalot makes the point that they are losing the public relations war. But it seems like the Abbott folks haven’t even shown up.
