American PhRMA companies commit $25M in medicines, medical supplies and cash for Haiti relief efforts

As the need for health care assistance mounts after the recent catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies continue to provide help.  So far, more than $25 million in medicines, medical supplies and cash have been committed to relief efforts – and that amount is still growing.  The total does not include the contributions of PhRMA member company employees and the many companies committed to matching the pledges of their workers.

PhRMA companies making donations include: Abbott, Amgen Inc., Astellas Pharma US, Inc., AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Eisai Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Company, Lundbeck Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk Inc., Otsuka America, Inc., Pfizer Inc, Purdue Pharma L.P., sanofi-aventis U.S., Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. and Talecris.

PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said: "The day the news broke about the tragedy in Haiti, America's biopharmaceutical companies got to work – coordinating efforts with relief organizations and health care groups already on the ground – making sure everything from simple antibiotic creams to critical medicines were made accessible to victims. And the more the need for medicinal aid is defined, the more our companies are providing it."

Some of the medical and disaster relief organizations that PhRMA companies are coordinating with in Haiti include the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Red Cross (via various national associations), as well as Americares, Catholic Medical Mission Board, Direct Relief International, MAP International, Partners in Health, Project HOPE, Save the Children and World Vision.

PhRMA is also involved in the Haitian effort through the Rx Response program.  This program, which was developed following Hurricane Katrina, has shed light on the most effective methods to donate medical products and the most efficient ways medical professionals can volunteer for the Haiti response effort.

"The vital role of PhRMA companies and their employees in the global community is clearly defined by such catastrophic situations.  It's our civic responsibility to provide health care professionals the tools they need to help save lives, and we're proud to take part in this effort, which will lead to the eventual recovery of Haiti," Tauzin said.