Tobacco :: Take action to reduce the harms of tobacco, says US President’s Cancer Panel

A new report issued by the President’s Cancer Panel is a call to action on how to significantly reduce tobacco use and its devastating toll in the United States and around the world. The prestigious panel of national experts appointed by the President, including Dr. LaSalle Leffall of the Howard University College of Medicine, Lance Armstrong and Dr. Margaret Kripke of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, has concluded that the main obstacle to progress has been the lack of political will to implement proven solutions.

Pain :: FDA announces results of investigation into illegal promotion of OxyContin by The Purdue Frederick Company

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) announced that The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc. has agreed to pay more than $600 million to resolve criminal charges and civil liabilities in connection with several illegal schemes to promote, market and sell OxyContin, a powerful prescription pain reliever that the company produces.

Drug :: Mike Leavitt regarding Senate Vote on Dorgan Importation Amendment

The Senate?s procedural vote this morning on the Dorgan prescription drug importation amendment is of serious concern. This amendment fails to sufficiently ensure the safety of imported products, and would open the door for counterfeit drugs to enter our domestic pharmaceutical supply. It would imperil the Food and Drug Administration?s (FDA) ability to protect American consumers from counterfeit and diverted drugs.

HIV :: AHF Lauds Thailand for Vow on Drug Licensing Despite Placement on US Trade Watch List

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US? largest provider of HIV/AIDS healthcare, education and prevention and operator of free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, lauded the Government of Thailand for its vow to continue with plans to issue compulsory licenses for the manufacturing and importing of generic versions of lifesaving drugs, including AIDS drugs, despite the fact that the office of United States Trade Representative (USTR), earlier this week elevated Thailand to its ?Priority Watch? List.