Pfizer – Implement Standards of Response to the Health Panademic of HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria (2002 – 2003)

Outcome: Successfully Withdrawn

WHEREAS:
HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, major public health challenges undermining development in the poorest countries, accounted for approximately 10% of all deaths worldwide in 2001;
Providing access to affordable, essential drugs in developing countries is a main strategy for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals;
Twenty-five million people have died from AIDS since the early 1980’s; 40 million people are currently infected with the HIV virus;
The World Health Organization estimates that, in developing countries, only 230,000 people of the 6 million who are sick enough to need antiretroviral medicines are receiving them;
Sub-Saharan Africa is the most severely affected region in the world; only 10,000 of the 25 million Africans with HIV/AIDS are taking antiretroviral drugs;
Without drastically expanded prevention and treatment efforts, 68 million people will die of AIDS in the 45 most affected countries between 2000 and 2020;
TUBERCULOSIS, one of the world’s leading infectious causes of death, takes 2 million lives a year and is a leading killer of people with HIV/AIDS;
MALARIA causes more than 300 million acute illnesses; approximately one million deaths occur annually, 90% in Sub-Saharan Africa;
Despite donation programs, promises of differential prices, international accords and public-private initiatives, poorest nations continue to suffer from lack of access to medicines;
The UNAIDS Director has stated that far greater action is needed by both government and private sector to ensure that treatment reaches those in greatest need;
Effective prevention, care and treatment strategies will require increased availability of and non-discriminatory access to vaccines, sterile injecting equipment, drugs, including antiretroviral therapy, diagnostics and related technologies, as well as increased research and development;
Pharmaceutical companies have the unique mission to provide health-giving medicines, a pivotal role in addressing health pandemics;
Our company is in advanced clinical trials with Capravirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Pfizer also produces Camoquine and Vibramycin monahydrate for treatment of Malaria, and Fluconazole and Zithromax for treatment of opportunistic infectious diseases associated with HIV/AIDS;
Immunity from liability for generic manufacturers of pharmaceuticals needed in developing countries, and support for the Global Aids Fund are ways that our company can respond;
BE IT RESOLVED:
Shareholders request the Board of Directors to establish and implement standards of response to the health pandemic of HIV/Aids, TB and Malaria in developing countries, particularly Africa. A report of such standards and their implementation would be made available to shareholders by October 2003 (omitting proprietary information and at reasonable cost).
SUPPORTING STATEMENT:
International non-governmental organizations have challenged the pharmaceutical industry to greater responses to the health crisis in developing countries. We believe that concrete action on the part of pharmaceutical companies is an important part of the world’s response to this global tragedy. Not to respond would be a tragedy for infected peoples and for the good name and reputation of our company.
Please vote your proxy FOR these concerns.