Sanders, Brown Express Concern Over Colombia Drug Controls

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) jumped on the bandwagon of Democrats expressing concern over the Obama administration’s position on compulsory generic licensing for Novartis’ cancer drug Gleevec in Colombia.

The senators wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman saying that they are “alarmed” over reports that the U.S. government may have pressured Columbia to refrain from issuing a compulsory license for the drug by threatening the withdrawal of funding.

“We object to any efforts to intimidate and discourage Colombia’s government from taking measures to protect the public health of Colombians in a way that is appropriate, effective and consistent with the country’s trade and public health obligations,” the letter states.