Obama's TPP coddles Big Pharma, strips the poor of Generics they need to live

[99th_Monkey]

This is so sad, so unnecessary, and so cruel. Why in the fuck is Obama doing this? He's got
no re-election to worry about. Is he being offered some sort of Post-Potus sweetheart deal,
or what? I like Obama, but this just pisses me off.


Latest TPP Draft Benefits Big Pharma By Slashing Access to Generics

In secret talks, the Obama administration is seeking to foist corporate-friendly policies on other countries that he has opposed in the United States, new reporting reveals

by Sarah Lazare, staff writer * Common Dreams * July 10, 2015


With another round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations slated for the end of this month, the administration of President Barack Obama is aiming to force developing nations to adopt Big Pharma-friendly policies that are so bad for public health Obama himself has opposed them in the United States.

Citing leaked drafts of the agreement, as well as officials "familiar with the latest May 11 version," Bloomberg journalist Peter Gosselin reported Friday that the deal is likely to include provisions that are almost certain to hike medicine costs while slashing access to generic drugs around the world: "At stake: hundreds of billions of dollars or more in extra costs that consumers may have to pay if the proposals make it harder for cheaper generics to win approval."

In the negotiations, Obama is pursuing corporate-friendly policies he has rejected at home.

For example, "U.S. negotiators want to win makers of advanced drugs 12 years of exclusivity for data that might otherwise help competitors produce similar, cheaper versions," wrote Gosselin. However, the Obama administration has sought, within the United States, to reduce that period to seven years.

But it doesn't stop there. "Negotiators are also seeking language to make it easier for the big drugmakers to win 'secondary' patents to strengthen their control over products," Gosselin continued. But domestically, the administration "has proposed changing U.S. law to make it harder to get such add-ons," Gosselin explained.

Obama is poised to not only foist these policies on other countries, but to trap the U.S. in them as well.

MORE: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/10/latest-tpp-draft-benefits-big-pharma-slashing-access-generics

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Obama is a capitalist, through and through.

He sold his soul for money, power and prestige. He's in bed with the powers of the PNAC and it is a sickening thing to watch being as he's a "Democrat" and all.

The Democratic PARTY needs to get back to FDR ideals or it's finished.

[99th_Monkey]

3. Roger that. One more example of why it's now or never for the Party

Not to mention our constitutional democracy.

Go Bernie Go!!!!!

[SoapBox]

41. Absolutely!

Go Bernie!

[hifiguy]

44. All true.

And I am sure he took note of the blandisments and crates of money that have been lavished on the Clintons in the last 14 years in return for the immense services they rendered to the plutocracy, including NAFTA, bank deregulation and the dreadful Telecom Act.

He wants in on that action in his post-presidential years. He sure as shit doesn't want to wind up like Jimmy Carter, building houses for Hanitat for Humanity.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

63. Yes, Obama is evil capitalist, unlike glorious Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2015, 10:22 AM - Edit history (1)

Who knew Democrats would betray peoples revolutionary 5-year plan made by what should be glorious leader? Their revanchism must be wiped out in reeducation camps, or they should be lined up against the wall, eh comrades?



- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

/ I will wait until the outcome of the free trade agreement before deciding whether I am for or against it. Not that I expect that will make people who dislike free trade any happier. Drug companies are entitled to some profit on new research that they financed, lest they decide not to engage in it; the question is, as always, how much?

// Corrected a scrivener's error about "Stalin", just to make the communist kids happy

[Le Taz Hot]

66. Uh, huh?

You're making even less sense with this post that usual and that's saying something.

[hifiguy]

69. It is never, ever a good idea to channel

Princess Sparklemoose.

[whathehell]

76. It's Stalin, not "Stalan"

Snark works best with correct spelling.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

87. Stalan was his cousin who was ten times worse....... or something.....

Last edited Tue Jul 14, 2015, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)

[whathehell]

88. or something..

[Katashi_itto]

86. Meth is a terrible drug

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

89. Apparently "the reality based community" seems to have

gone into quite a bender. Must be some kick ass shit.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

91. Hey, you're the ones attacking Obama for being "capitalist"

I mean, it really says everything anyone needs to know about you.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

92. You seem to have a tendency to attribute things other people haven't said to them. I'm sure

you're still embarrassed about the last time you tried puling that shit with me. If you'll notice I haven't made any comments on this thread and haven't even expressed any opinion on this matter. I showed up just to mock your hysterical funny ass reply. Just like most everyone else has.

[truebrit71]

93. I am stunned that this piece of shit post was allowed to stand...

"communist kids"

What kind of fucked up bullshit is that?

Seriously dude, you're on the wrong fucking site...

This is still DEMOCRATIC underground, right???

[ConservativeDemocrat]

96. Indeed it is the DEMOCRATIC underground...

So nobody go bashing President Obama for being a... and I quote verbatim, "capitalist through and through", as if that's a bad thing.

Yes, President Obama is a capitalist. He believes in free trade, where private people are largely free to engage in commerce, subject to governmental safeguards against victimization, fraud, abuse, and overwhelming inherited privileges.

So you want to come on to a DEMOCRATIC website and bash a DEMOCRATIC President for engaging in an economic system that 99% of DEMOCRATS believe is the best? Then expect a Democrat to accurately label the ideology that you are espousing.

I mean it's really that simple. Democrats are capitalists. Not, as Teabaggers would assert, communists. We believe in equality of opportunity, not guaranteed equality of outcome.

And if you don't understand that, you're on the wrong site. Go to www.revleft.com otherwise.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[ChazII]

95. Thank you for the use of 'scrivener' it is

a word that is seldom seen or heard. Reminds me of Bartleby.

[onecaliberal]

2. People will die because they can't afford life saving meds.

[hifiguy]

46. But profits will be guaranteed for the Owning Class.`

One must have one's priorities straight, now. mustn't one? Something as paltry as human life must never, ever be put before maximum profits.

[brooklynite]

4. You'll understand if I wait to see the actual agreement...

...rather than accept a leftist-blog's interpretation?

[99th_Monkey]

6. Is Bloomberg News 'mainstream' enough for you to believe?

Obama Is in a Bind on Drugs That Could Cost Consumers Billions of Dollars
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-10/obama-pushes-trade-partners-to-add-drug-rules-he-opposes-in-u-s-

FYI - this was the source cited in the Common Dreams article, which says the same thing.

[msanthrope]

12. Note that the Bloomberg article is far more detailed and nuanced regarding biologics.

it al so mentions the Congressional rule structure that the negotiators are under...... frankly I don't know why you just didn't post the Bloomberg article it's not as subjective and is quite frankly better written on the issues.

[99th_Monkey]

26. Take your pick of articles you want to believe

There's really no need to shoot the messenger. Common Dreams
is an A-OK reliable source to most peeps on DU.

[msanthrope]

30. Sadly, primary sourcing is a lost art. nt

[Elwood P Dowd]

8. Leftist-blog? How many times have we heard that from your typical republican?

You sound just like Bill O'Reilly.

[A Simple Game]

55. It's a shame, the conservatives on DU don't even try to hide it anymore.

I once had one brag to me about being a conservative.

[Elwood P Dowd]

60. And they all worship corporate crooks and fake free trade deals like TPP. (nm)

[arcane1]

32. Common Dreams is a "leftist blog" now?

I didn't get that memo.

[Doctor_J]

43. "Leftist" is an insult at DU, just like at Freeperville

Wonder why we've been slaughtered at the polls for 2 decades?

[The Green Manalishi]

42. If you think Common Dreams is too leftist

I cannot even begin to take anything else you say seriously.

And 'Leftist' is a good thing, at least to anyone I respect.

[Rex]

48. So now you will lie to the point of Bloomberg being a leftist blog?

I knew I was right about you all along. Don't you have a single ounce of shame in your body? None? SMH.

[Bettie]

5. OK...stay with me, and I admit this is Tin Foil Hat territory

but according to my beloved husband, who is smart and not usually likely to buy into conspiracy theories believes that the series of Secret Service failures were a reminder to him of how easily his family could be targeted if he doesn't play ball and do as he's told.

My own opinion? He's owned by corporate interests same as most everyone else.

Either way, these trade agreements have been bad for us, the people of the US.

[GoneFishin]

17. I won't cut him any slack on the pretense "that he truly believes TPP is good for America". Nor will

I cut him any slack on the pretense that "we really don't know if TPP will be bad for the country because we have not seen it yet." Those are both bullshit excuses for letting big corporations finally snuff out what little trace remained of our democracy.

I will, however, cut him some slack on the basis that there are billions, maybe trillions, of dollars in profits to be reaped by very, very powerful people. Considering that people have killed each other over a pair of track shoes, I am open to the possibility that someone might have made him an offer he can't refuse.

[Bettie]

25. I am of that opinion too

sadly, we have very few who won't sell out...even fewer who haven't already.

The supporters of TPP know it won't be "good for America", but it will be good for a very few Americans who will add to their already obscene wealth.

[WinkyDink]

40. IMO, that offer came way before the first nomination.

[GoneFishin]

64. Yep. It may have been their "return on investment".

[Telcontar]

85. Yeah, the problem is, the 82nd Airborne works for him

I get that there's tension between the White House and the military. That said, push comes to shove, I'd not want to be on the bad side of some pissed off Army rangers with an open hunting license.

[GoneFishin]

94. Uh-huh

[Telcontar]

97. Yup

I trust the military rank and file. President says do, it gets done.

[Sunlei]

33. I agree with your husband especially about that oldest South American SS failure.

[CharlotteVale]

7. This is evil. No other word for it.

[Godhumor]

9. No mention of US rules that force the negotiators to pursue these rules?

Similar to the US government needing to defend laws in court it doesn't support, the negotiators are in a bind. That said, I don't think they will shed tears when other countries refuse to include the pharmaceutical language in the final draft of the agreement (The negotiators have to push for the rules, not actually win the votes to include them.).

[msanthrope]

11. The original source article from Bloomberg which common dreams basically plagiarizes

Mentions the Congressional laws and policy that bind the negotiators. They're asking for 12 I think they'll probably get 7 which is more in line of what are actual laws seem to reflect..

[Godhumor]

13. Imagine that. Common Dreams not including some pretty basic info

Never would have guessed that was a possibility...

[msanthrope]

14. I'd feel insulted as a common dreams reader frankly.....

It's an important legal point that if you're going to discuss the TPP you should have knowledge of. If you aren't being given basic legal info by your source then why you. You also note in the bottom paragraph of the article there's a whole lot of misinformation about big scary ISDS...... which is an utter red herring.

[GoneFishin]

19. ISDS is not a "red herring". You should ponder that over an imported Canadian Mad Cow burger,

or nice Mexican Sewer Swill raised T-bone.

[msanthrope]

28. Kindly name the ISDs case we've actually lost.

Oh right we never have lost one and I'm not scared of Canadian or Mexican products. I find your exceptionalism Very interesting.

[GoneFishin]

38. Yeah. That's a good idea. Don't learn from past WTO mistakes. Let's keep making the same ones over

and over.

[msanthrope]

58. Moving goalposts is hard work. Can you name the ISDS case we've lost? nt

[GoneFishin]

65. Falling for fait accompli is dumb. Fool me once.

[davidpdx]

83. Well, plus if what you said is true about Common Dreams plagiarized a major newspaper

That doesn't speak well for them regardless of their other work. I'm going based on what you said as I haven't read either.

[msanthrope]

10. I think enforcing patent protection to prevent copycat drugs is wonderful.

Your article conflates copycat and generic drugs and that's kind of a really sloppy mistake to make. further I'm not surprised the administration is asking for 12 years on the biologics I don't think I'll get it I think with all get it closer to seven..... but I think that's incredibly smart policy to follow.

[99th_Monkey]

15. Tell that to the families of poor sick people dying for lack of money

to buy the drugs they need at the inflated prices Big Pharma is pushing down
our collective throats, in virtual secrecy, behind closed doors.

I'm sure they will be comforted by your words.

[msanthrope]

16. You are conflating copycats with generics. If you're going to discuss pharmaceuticals under the TPP

I would expect that you would know the difference between a copy cat and a generic.

[99th_Monkey]

53. Please show me where "copy cat" drugs are mentioned

in either article.

As near as I can tell, both articles are solely about generics, but you're
welcome to show me otherwise, if you can.

[msanthrope]

59. Again if you're discussing pharmaceuticals under the TPP you should know the difference between

Copycats and generics because copy cats are produced primarily in places like India and China and are of great concern for us and other trading partners.

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/01/1398388/-TPP-draft-of-intellectual-property-chapter-leaked-Obama-fighting-for-Big-Pharma-expensive-drugs

if you're going to be discussing the intellectual property aspects of the TPP then my suggestion is that you bone up on figuring out what those aspects are...... which means that you need to read more than two articles.

[99th_Monkey]

67. I found this sentence interesting, from a NYTimes article

"To pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Glaxo Wellcome and Aventis, which invest billions of dollars in research, Dr. Hamied (a huge producer of copy-cat drugs in India) embodies the enemy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/01/world/selling-cheap-generic-drugs-india-s-copycats-irk-industry.html

My heart does not bleed for a vampiric industry that routinely gouges the sick, the elderly, the poor, et. al. while laughing all the way to the bank.

Secondly, I frankly don't see what is so wrong with producing a drug at it's real cost PLUS a decent profit, as opposed to an indecently exorbadent price tag that only upper income peeps can afford. In fact I thank God that someone is doing that so those who can't otherwise afford the drugs they need, can get them.

How are the millions of dirt-poor people in India supposed to get the drugs they need, without something like this?

Oh On Edit: Thanks for the Kos article. It was helpful

[msanthrope]

72. Who is responsible to the dirt poor when the copycat goes wrong?

I have an aunt who took copycat Vioxx. It didn't kill her it nearly crippled her and of course because she took the copycats there's no one to sue. there's no one to be responsible for the bad manufacture. and you know why she took the copycat Vioxx? because her libertarian son went online and found a pharmacy in Canada...... that was selling drugs from India.

I agree with you the drugs should be low cost but the fact is is that there's absolutely no way for an American citizen to hold a drug manufacturer in India responsible for bad manufacture....... and that's the danger of copycatting.....

I am extremely thankful that under Obamacare the extremely expensive drugs that I take to help my eyes is completely subsidized. sure I had to get online and scream in a couple of insurance companies but in the end I have exactly what I need when I need it.

[99th_Monkey]

74. Good point, about liability and such. nt

[davidpdx]

84. Not that I'm defending the big pharma industry

But some of the cost is front-loaded with R&D costs. Not every medicine that is developed goes to market, I'd guess the number that actually do as a percentage is pretty low.

The market for counterfeit drugs is pretty big and they are coming out of countries with very lax intellectual property right laws (think China). Someone mentioned Vioxx as one that is counterfeited. My guess is that Viagra and Cialis are also heavily counterfeited. I have a friend who lives in China who buys the latter online for pretty cheap (no it's not very smart) and uses them.

I also fear drug prices going up because that will raise insurance prices and co-pay. I'm on a handful of medications some of them brand name ones, most of them I'm not sure if they are brand name or not. I pay about $45 a month for my doctor's visit and the medication and my insurance is $80 a month here in Korea.

[Logical]

78. How about we just close down all pharm company's! Problem solved. nt

[99th_Monkey]

80. Nah!

I doubt you are serious, but rather are being sarcastic.

Here, since you forgot your smilie, you can have one of mine

[GoneFishin]

18. Are you for bastardizing the patent system so companies benefit from government protection forever

but shirk their obligation under their social contract to share their invention after the patent term ends?

[msanthrope]

21. No..... I'm for stopping copycats.

As to the patents we've asked for 12 but I think we're going to end up getting is far closer to 7. 12 is a negotiating position and it's unlikely that other countries are going to agree.

[GoneFishin]

22. Twelve starting when? Precisely?

[msanthrope]

34. I haven't seen the draft portion that covers that question I think it's an excellent question. nt

[Recursion]

73. Generally from the date the patent is filed

With some extensions if there is an "undue" delay at USPTO granting it. This treaty may be different but that's the usual.

[restorefreedom]

90. here's a thought....

how about we have trained people in this country who need jobs to make these drugs instead of outsourcing this work to countries whose quality assurance we can't verify? That would at least fix the US is copycat problem and it would bring jobs back to the US. but unfortunately that would cut into big pharma profits.

[Hoyt]

27. Actually, some countries like India turn their back on drug counterfeiting, there is little

patent protection in some of these countries. Plus, drug makers usually sell drugs much cheaper in poorer countries. It's worth reading up on drug prices in poorer countries.

[Recursion]

75. Most other countries' governments negotiate prices with drug makers

Which alleviates a lot of the pricing problems. Sure wish the US would hop on that bandwagon...

[Hoyt]

77. That I agree with. Interestingly, Medicare Advantage and drug plans do negotiate, but not

as effective as having all Medicare drugs in the process. Traditional Medicare seldom says no to any FDA approved drugs. But Advantage and Part D plans do, which helps when several drugs are similar.

Even traditional Medicare gets some advantage from others negotiating, in that they pay 95% of Average Wholesale Price.

I think it's time laws are enacted on how much and how long drug research and development costs can be recaptured, taking into account gains and loses on other drugs from the company.

[Doctor_J]

45. You also think that small business employees' annual healthcare going up by 1600% is wonderful

anything to help St. Obama.

You've killed the party, dear. Thanks alot for handing the party and the nation to PHARMA and their ilk.

[msanthrope]

57. I'm not sure hyperbole helps it, either. nt

[L0oniX]

61. "You've killed the party, dear." Nailed it!

Should it be resuscitated and on life support Hillary will most certainly pull the plug.

[hifiguy]

70. That's her designated job.

[Blue_Tires]

20. aren't there other nations involved in these negotiations?

at what point do they pull out, since this entire partnership is evidently so unholy and evil?

[HooptieWagon]

29. Malaysia was...

until Obama told them he was cool with their slavery.

[hifiguy]

49. Can you fucking believe that shit?

And yet the kool-aid guzzlers ignore it.

[erronis]

31. Good point. Altho we (as a potential signatory) should know these facts.

Or are the other nations just as beholden to their "invested" interests as is the USofA?

My guess is that these niddlings are really being worked out in some of the ritzier spots around the world over fine food and drink. F the serfs!

[GoneFishin]

37. My opinion is that the involvement of other countries is mostly a sham.Yes there is money to be made

in other countries using TPP as a tool to rip off their populations also, but I think the big target is the U.S. because, notice, that ALL DISCUSSION regarding when the TPP text will be available is in the U.S., by the U.S.. They would have implemented the identical laws to screw the American public out of any hope of self-governance directly within the U.S. legislature process without couching it in a fake "trade agreement" if they could have. But then future congresses and administrations could simply undo the offensive and unconstitutional laws. But by pledging away our legislative sovereignty to multinational corporations under the terms of a sham "trade agreement" it makes it hard to undo the damage, which is precisely why they are doing it that way.

They know that there is going to be a public furor once the full extent of the TPP damage is known to the public, and they want to be able to play the "oh well, it's too late to fix it now" card.

[MisterP]

23. but SCOTUS!

[Sunlei]

24. we already pay ridiculous prices for medicines. Even my Vet makes a 1000% profit on some medication

[AzDar]

35. Our President, whom I campaigned for, proselytized in pubs for...has SOLD US OUT.

End of story.

[Dont call me Shirley]

36. Fuck the execs and owners of the pharmaceutical companies. They are truly monsters.

If we were aware of the extent of the damage they have done to the people of this earth we would string them up from lamp posts.

[hifiguy]

50. I have a sneaking feeling that there will

be Mussolini and Ceaucescu moments coming for the tenth-percenters at some point. And it will be nothing more or less than justice when it finally happens.

[Dont call me Shirley]

52. Their Precious will be no longer useful to them then.

[Faux pas]

39. This will put a permanent

stain on all of his other achievements. So very sad and disappointing.

[Maedhros]

47. Hey now, those post-Presidential speaking gigs are pretty lucrative.

Who is going to pay more for those - Big Pharma, or poor people?

He knows on which side his bread is buttered.

[riversedge]

51. This is so wrong.

[lark]

54. Trojan Horse President

waging war against the world's working class. It's impossible to reconcile the man I saw on the campaign trail with this treachery.

[840high]

81. That's exactly what a young man

at a store said today.

[OnyxCollie]

56. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[polichick]

62. Big Pharma lobbyist Billy Tauzin was an early and frequent visitor to the WH...

Obama lurves Big Pharma!

[Elwood P Dowd]

68. I hope you're kidding. You talk about sleaze, Billy Tauzin is the ultimate sleaze.

[polichick]

71. When the Obama WH first released visitor logs, Tauzin's name...

appeared many times, right from the beginning.

[raouldukelives]

79. Kick. Best representation investors allow us to have. nt

[WillyT]

82. K & R !!!