GlaxoSmithKline Says It Will No Longer Sell Products To Canadian Companies That Market GSK Drugs to the United States
GlaxoSmithKline said in Jan. 1 letters to Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers that market GSK treatments over the Internet to the United States and other nations that GSK will no longer sell products to companies that continue the practice after Jan. 21, the Wall Street Journal reports. "In the interest of patient safety and the maintenance of an adequate product supply in (Canada)," GSK is "strongly against the Internet sale and export of its Canadian medications," one of the letters said (Lueck/Baglole, Wall Street Journal, 1/13). Mary Ann Rhyne, a GSK spokesperson, said that Canadian labels on the treatments may appear in a different language or have dosage amounts -- such as milliliters rather than teaspoons -- that differ from U.S. versions of the medications. In addition, the treatments may not be shipped to the United States "under proper conditions" of temperature, humidity and radiation "that would affect the safety and efficacy of a medicine," she said. GSK sent the letters to six wholesalers and a few dozen pharmacies, she said (Loyd, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/13). Manitoba Industry Minister MaryAnn Minychuck said that she would investigate whether GSK's decision to end product sales to some Canadian pharmacies and wholesalers violated the free-trade agreement between the United States and Canada (Wall Street Journal, 1/13). Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) said that the decision "seriously jeopardizes the health and well-being of thousands of Americans," adding that he plans to introduce legislation to prevent the move, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Agovino, AP/Long Island Newsday, 1/11).
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