February 20, 2003 -- More news on Anti-Glaxo campaign


TUMS DOWN !
Boycott Glaxo California Kick-off !

What: Press Conference and Rally to support the boycott of Glaxo
products

Why: Support for a Glaxo boycott, to stop the multinational
corporation from keeping prescription drug prices artificially high in
the United States.

When: 11:30 a.m. sharp, Thursday, February 27, 2003

Where: 4th and Howard (Carousel Corner) and Front Door to
Moscone Center.

SAN FRANCISCO Thursday, February 20, 2003 at 11:30 AM, an angry mob
of Seniors and diverse consumers will descend upon the Moscone Center
where up to 3000 Glaxo employees will try to plan their next foray
into strongarming Canada. Some protesters will be on walkers, some
in wheelchairs, some walking, but all coming together demanding
justice for what they see as an overt assault on their health security
by GlaxoSmithKline executives.

Senior Action Network, Greenlining Institute and the Gray Panthers are
protesting what they call a "mean-spirited" decision by
GlaxoSmithKline to cut supplies to Canadian pharmacies that sell to US
citizens at massive discounts of up to 80% compared to US prices.

Canadian pharmacists have told their customers that on January 21,
Glaxo put a halt to the shipment of its prescription drugs including
the two of the most demanded, Flonase and Paxil to pharmacies that
resell their products to US citizens.

Striking back, and adopting the battle cry, "Tums Down has launched a
boycott war against GlaxoSmithKline's over-the-counter products. This
product line includes Aquafresh toothpaste, Tums, Contac cold
medicine, Oscal, Nicorette, and many more.

According to Howard Wallace of Senior Action Network, "Glaxo has
really picked a fight with the wrong group. They have the money, but
we have the people." Manning their computers and teaming with other
seniors groups around the nation they hope to force a reversal of the
Glaxo decision by having a material impact on Glaxo's projected
earnings.

"The response is better than we ever could have expected" Mr. Wallace
said. "It's now spreading to universities and to others who have been
calling all day to join with us in our cause."



More news From Kaiser Foundation Daily Health Policy Report, 2-21-03

Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) last week introduced a bill that would
mandate that pharmaceutical companies cannot restrict sales to
Canadian pharmacies that market their treatments to U.S. consumers.

Sanders introduced the Preserving Access to Safe, Affordable Canadian
Medicines Act (HR 847) in response to GlaxoSmithKline's decision last
month to stop supplying its drugs to Canadian Internet pharmacies that
sell to U.S. patients. The bill would authorize civil penalties of up
to $1 million for drug companies that attempt to block U.S. consumers'
access to Canadian drugs.

Glaxo has launched an "outrageous assault on consumers," and Congress
should protect a "source of safe and affordable medicine for an
increasing amount of Americans," Sanders said in a release (Sanders
release, 2/18).

Hundreds of organizations last week began a campaign to boycott
Glaxo's over-the-counter products and encourage consumers to sell
Glaxo stock. The groups have organized a rally outside of Glaxo's
U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia on Feb. 20, according to Pedro
Rodriguez, head of the city's Action Alliance of Senior Citizens.
"Glaxo has picked a fight with the wrong people," Rodriguez said
(Winnipeg Free Press, 2/17)



(San Francisco Senior Action Network people learned from their
Philadelphia affiliate that hundreds of seniors demonstrated in
Philadelphia at Glaxo's US headquarters, despite 15 degree cold.)