Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8930

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Glusker A.
WHO confronts Chinese company over malaria drug
BMJ 2007 Mar 17; 334:(7593):553
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/334/7593/553?etoc

Abstract:

The World Health Organization is asking a Chinese pharmaceutical company to stop making a malaria drug that earns millions of dollars annually in revenues.

The move is part of a campaign to combat increasing resistance to antimalarials and to promote use of combination treatments. The drug’s manufacturer, Kunming Pharmaceutical, which is owned by the Holley Group and publicly traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, is refusing to halt sales, which amounted to $5m (£2.6m; 3.8m) in 2004, according to the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com, 6 Mar, “China’s pride on line in malaria clash”).

The confrontation may prove awkward for Margaret Chan, the newly elected director general of WHO, who is from Hong Kong. One of the questions raised about Chan’s candidacy was whether or not she would be able to stand up to China when necessary.

Complicating matters is the fact that a huge market for malaria drugs exists in . . .