Comments on: Cipla Ltd. Plans to Make Generic Version of Tamiflu http://www.patentbaristas.com/archives/2005/10/14/cipla-ltd-plans-to-make-generic-version-of-tamiflu/ Freshly Brewed Bio/Pharma Chat. Served Up Daily. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:54:35 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rich Peters http://www.patentbaristas.com/archives/2005/10/14/cipla-ltd-plans-to-make-generic-version-of-tamiflu/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Rich Peters Wed, 19 Oct 2005 05:28:52 +0000 http://www.patentbaristas.com/wp/?p=251#comment-88 Q: If a bacterial population doubles every hour, and it fills a test tube in 24 hours, then how far has it grown in by the 22nd hour? Q: If that test tube hold a deadly bacterium, how much political attention will it receive by the 22nd hour? In these two questions lies the difference between public health truth (as well known by the Microbiologists) and political/pulic perception of risks. The scientist understands the growing risks; the body politic does not. So the UN has approached Kofi Annan to help? Why not ask Saddam, as he has far greater experience with mass destruction! Free markets, as much as I support them, are supposed to give way in deference to public health. The CDC must be given leave to do their job, even if Washington is weighing the risks of another Swine Flu political disaster as the alternative. But ensuring the manufacture of "the most complicated process" drug in the world falls to generic, unregulated, unknown facilities, is frankly, to invite more unknown side-effects that the threat itself. Our governments need to be authorized to listen to their public health officials, and to give them the "bio-wartime" powers they require to build the necessary tools and supplies for this combat. Just like they did for the levees in New Orleans. Q: If a bacterial population doubles every hour, and it fills a test tube in 24 hours, then how far has it grown in by the 22nd hour?

Q: If that test tube hold a deadly bacterium, how much political attention will it receive by the 22nd hour?

In these two questions lies the difference between public health truth (as well known by the Microbiologists) and political/pulic perception of risks. The scientist understands the growing risks; the body politic does not.

So the UN has approached Kofi Annan to help? Why not ask Saddam, as he has far greater experience with mass destruction!

Free markets, as much as I support them, are supposed to give way in deference to public health. The CDC must be given leave to do their job, even if Washington is weighing the risks of another Swine Flu political disaster as the alternative. But ensuring the manufacture of “the most complicated process” drug in the world falls to generic, unregulated, unknown facilities, is frankly, to invite more unknown side-effects that the threat itself.

Our governments need to be authorized to listen to their public health officials, and to give them the “bio-wartime” powers they require to build the necessary tools and supplies for this combat. Just like they did for the levees in New Orleans.

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