RELIGIOUS GROUPS CALL ON PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO MAKE AIDS DRUGS ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE
5, March 2001

For more information contact: Regina Murphy (212) 870-2317
Barbara Aires (973) 290-5402
Seamus Finn (202) 636-1608

Monday, March 05, 2001 - Religious groups associated with the International Health Issue Group of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) today called on pharmaceutical companies to make life-saving HIV/AIDS medicines accessible and affordable in African countries where AIDS is raging at pandemic levels. HIV/AIDS infects 4 million new cases of men, women and children each year in Africa. Most African countries can afford no more than $10 a year per citizen on all health care.

"A lawsuit filed by more than 40 pharmaceutical companies against the South African government threatens future accessibility and affordability of AIDS drugs," explained Rev. Seamus Finn of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. "These companies need to put the lives of millions of people with AIDS ahead of their quest to maximize profits."

The landmark lawsuit will be heard on Monday, March 5th in the Pretoria High Court in South Africa. The companies argue that the purchase of cheaper generic versions of anti-AIDS drugs violates their intellectual property rights. ICCR-member religious institutional investors are challenging drug pricing policies in resolutions to U.S. pharmaceutical giants Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Pharmacia, Schering Plough, and in dialogue with American Home Products, all plaintiffs in the lawsuit. In their meetings with pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and the British company, Glaxo, ICCR members have also raised concerns about the affordability of drug treatments for the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

"Pharmaceutical companies are profit makers but they also have the unique mission to provide health giving medicines, often making the difference between life and death," said Sr. Barbara Aires of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth. "If these drugs were affordably priced, the South African government would be buying them directly from the companies. Unfortunately they are not. For the South African government, the choice is obvious -- first save lives. We believe that the pharmaceutical companies should also put the lives of people first."

ICCR is a coalition of nearly 300 faith-based institutional investors representing over $100 billion in invested capital, including denominations, religious communities, pension funds, dioceses and health care corporations. "Many ICCR members have workers in Sub-Saharan Africa and sister relationships with churches in Africa," explained Ms. Patricia Zerega of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. "They see first hand the ravages of the AIDS pandemic and know that affordable drugs could save millions of lives."