Pharmaceutical Industry
Access to medicines in
developing countries is influenced to a large extent by international business
and by trade and investment agreements. The WTO agreement on intellectual
property rights (TRIPS) and requirements for intellectual property protection in
bilateral investment treaties (BITs) influences the availability of cheap
generic medicines. Apart from access to medicines, corporate accountability
issues specific to the pharmaceutical industry include clinical trial ethics,
responsible marketing of medicines, and efforts for the development of new
innovative medicines. The research of SOMO currently focuses on clinical trial ethicsin developing countries and emerging regions.
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Pharmaceutical Industry News
Better protection of clinical trial participants in low income countries?
19-09-2011
On 13 September, SOMO, Wemos and partner Dr. Amar Jesani of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics held a debate with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and European authorities. Topic: how to prevent that medicines being admitted to the European market have been tested unethically on trial participants in low income countries? SOMO and partners presented policy proposals for exercising the European responsibility for tackling this problem. European authorities and MEPs proved willing to take steps in this direction.
Controversial practices in outsourcing of clinical trials
06-09-2011
More than half of all clinical trials are outsourced by pharmaceutical companies to subcontractors, the so-called Contract Research Organisations (CROs). As a result quality standards and the independent inspection process are jeopardised, with many negative consequences for participants in developing countries. SOMO, however, feels relatively positive about the attention recently given to the controversial practices surrounding clinical trials and CROs in various international media.
Ethics and quality of drug testing in low income countries subject to additional pressure through outsourcing
09-02-2011
Testing drugs on people in low income countries incurs more risks than previously discovered. The reason is that more than half of the drug tests are outsourced to subcontractors by pharmaceutical companies. This has put the quality and ethics of the drug tests under pressure. Moreover, there is no independent monitoring system. This is demonstrated by the report: “Putting Contract Research Organisations on the Radar” that SOMO publishes today in collaboration with the Latin American organisation Salud y Fármacos and the Indian Centre for Studies in Ethics and Rights.
Debate and publications on medicine testing in poor countries
14-12-2010
On Friday 17 December, Stichting Wemos, together with student association IFMSA-NL, is organising a screening of the English-language film ‘Body Hunters’, on the testing of medicines in India. Wemos will also be launching its book, which features the experiences of people who took part in clinical trials. Dutch Green Party MEP Judith Sargentini will be presented with the first copy. SOMO will be making an advance announcement of its new report on this theme.
Pfizer should make ethics a priority
05-08-2009
Pharmaceuticals company Pfizer pays out up to 53 million euros to settle legal claims relating to a controversial drug trial in Nigeria. “It’s a pity that Pfizer still won’t admit blame,” says Annelies den Boer at Wemos. “Pfizer should make ethics a priority.”
A step forward in the unethical testing issue
20-05-2009
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has announced that it wants to implement improved monitoring of compliance of ethical guidelines for clinical medical research outside the European Union. A lobbying success, according to Wemos. But it is important to maintain the pressure.
Report: ‘European supervision of medicine tests in developing countries could be better’
15-04-2009
The European system of supervision of medicine research in developing countries could and must be improved. This is argued by SOMO in a new report commissioned by the European Parliament.
Experimental breast cancer drug unethically tested on Indian women
05-02-2009
People in developing countries run health risks from pharmaceutical companies testing drugs on them for the Western market. An Indian research report published today again shows several pharmaceutical companies’ disregard for ethical rules.
Attention for unethical testing practices
19-05-2008
On International Clinical Trials’ Day a coalition of five European organizations led by the Wemos Foundation draws attention to the situation of
human subjects taking part in clinical drug trials in developing countries.
European citizens take bitter pill
19-02-2008
SOMO and the Wemos Foundation present new evidence that ‘unfair’ drugs, medicines which have been unethically tested in low-income and middle-income countries, are being given approval for use on the European market.
Misdeeds by pharmaceutical industry
16-11-2006
Pharmaceutical companies are guilty of testing new medicines in an unethical manner on people living in developing countries.
