I'm writing on behalf of ACT UP/NY and Philadelphia to urge you to take an hour out of your day tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, at 9am for a picket line demonstration against the outrageous greed of the pharmaceutical giant Roche against People with AIDS in Korea who need the injectable anti-HIV drug called Fuzeon.
Fuzeon is a drug that is the last line of defense for people living with HIV- when other medications don't work, Fuzeon is a last chance.
Roche is refusing even modest price reductions for this drug which was invented by a US Govt. Scientist who began the discovery process with a lot of US government money.
On Thursday at 9am we are protesting at LifeBrands at 1675 B-way (between 52nd and 53rd St- near the 50th St stop of the C&E trains). We'll be outside of the headquarters of the company that does advertising for this drug for Roche. Here's an action alert that describes some of the issues. It begins with a quote from a Roche executive. We're doing the action outside of the week of actions for logistical reasons. This is a basic picket line action. You can see at the bottom of the announcement a list of South Korean, international and US organizations supporting this effort.
"We do not business for saving lives, but for making money. Saving lives is none of our business". - Roche Korea President
If you're HIV positive in the US, and have become resistant to all first and second line treatment, most of the time you have access to Fuzeon, a critical last-line HIV medication. But if you live in Korea, you cannot get access and will likely die. Roche, the maker of Fuzeon, has refused to sell Fuzeon to the Korean government for a reasonable rate, and Korean people with HIV are at risk as a result.
Korean activists have asked for our support in calling for Roche to drop the price of Fuzeon. Can you send an email to Roche's CEO and tell him to drop the price of Fuzeon? Here's the link: http://capwiz.com/ams/issues/alert/?alertid=12006781&type=CU
Next week, US activists will be holding protests across the US at Roche offices. And Korean and French activists will also be protesting Roche and calling for them to drop the price of Fuzeon. By combining our efforts together across the globe, we can force Roche to drop the price of Fuzeon. Please take two minutes to click this link and send this very critical email.
http://capwiz.com/ams/issues/alert/?alertid=12006781&type=CU
If you'd like more information, pasted below is the call to action from Korean activists, as well as the press release put out by ACT UP Paris and allies.
Please take a moment to send this email.
Thanks!
ACT UP Philadelphia, ACT UP/NY, American Medical Student Association, Health GAP and the Student Global AIDS Campaign
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South Korea :
Korea HIV/AIDS Network of Solidarity , Nanuri+, HIV/AIDS Human Rights Advocacy Group of KoreaHYPERLINK "genuineok@hanmail.nethttp://genuineok@hanmail.net> ", mailto:genuineok@hanmail.net> Public Pharmaceutical Center, Solidarity for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Human Rights of Korea, Korean Gay Men's Human Rights Group, Sarangbang, Group for Human Rights, Health Right Network, Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights, Association of Korea Doctors for Health Rights, Association of Physicians for Humanism, Korea Dentists Associatio! n for Health Society, Korea Health and Medical Workers Union, Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society,People's Solidarity for Social Progress, Intellectual Property Left, Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet, Korea Leukemia Patient Group, New Progressive Party, Love4one (for people PWLH group), NNHAP (Nopi Narara Aids Positive), Democratic Labor Party, Sexual Minority Committee of the Democratic Laber Party
United States : ACT UP-Philadelphia, American Medical Student Association, Health GAP, Knowledge Ecology International
France : Act Up-Paris, Aides, Avocats pour la santé dans le Monde, Coalition PLUS, Solidarité Sida
Marocco : ALCS Maroc
Switzerland : Global Health Advocates
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