CONTACT: Asia Russell, (215) 731-1844 o Pager: (215) 838-2355
Eric Sawyer (on site in New Hampshire) (917) 797-9203

(Laconia, NEW HAMPSHIRE) ­Nine AIDS Activists confront Al Gore at a State Democratic gathering at St. James Episcopal Church. The activists disrupted the event: blowing whistles; tossing "blood money" with Gore labeled as a "pharmaceutical industry puppet"; dumping large pill bottles to the crowd with "AIDS Drugs for Africa/Gorešs Greed Kills." At the end of each of the four disruptions, Gore replied that he would be glad to meet with them on this issue.

Eric Sawyer yelled at the Vice President: "22 million will die without these drugs in South Africa. Why are you trying to kill 22 million people?" Again Gore replied "Išm willing to talk to you privately." Mary Goldman, of Massachusetts, then asked him: "Why not use this public forum to explain your connection to the pharmaceutical industry; explain how your top 4 aides are tied to the most profitable industry in this country? Why are you using your position as co-chair of the US/South Africa bi-national commission to secure the profits of the pharmaceutical industry at the expense of people with AIDS?

Protesters have been pressuring Gore to stop blocking South Africašs efforts to manufacture generic AIDS drugs at lower prices and import them more cheaply from abroad to help millions of citizens with HIV disease. AIDS activists in Johannesburg and Cape Town have staged mass protests in recent weeks to demand the drugs.

Gore has numerous close ties to the US pharmaceutical industry (see next page) and has received substantial campaign contributions from drug companies. He has consistently acted to protect the interests of US drug companies at the expense of people with AIDS, though the pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable business in the world, according to Fortune. Said Jennifer Smith, "As an American, itšs unconscionable that anyone would try to stop sick people in South Africa from getting these drugs, let alone the vice president of the country."

"When 22 million lives at stake, it goes beyond a trade issue, an intellectual property issue or a public health problem," added protester Eric Sawyer. "Itšs a catastrophe. If this happened in Europe, the US would be funneling billions of dollars to help European countries stop the epidemic. Instead, the US government, lead by Al Gore, is actually fighting South Africašs efforts to save the lives of its own citizens."

Activists have protested at Gorešs campaign stops since he announced his candidacy for President. They are angered by his pivotal role in blocking access to affordable AIDS medication in South Africa. As Vice President, Gore serves as Co-Chair of the South Africa Bi-National Commission and has used this post to threaten trade sanctions against South Africa for the countryšs 1997 Medicines Act, which would allow compulsory licensing and parallel importing.

The average annual income in South Africa is US $2600, while a basic drug combination costs at least US $12,000 per year. Subsaharan Africa is home to about two-thirds of worldšs population with HIV disease. Twelve million people have died there already of AIDS; over 22 million more are infected.

Compulsory licensing allows a country to compel a drug company to license cheaper, generic versions of a drug in the event of a national health emergency. The US regularly uses compulsory licensing to seize rights to technology that it deems necessary to license in the national interest. TRIPS (The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) specifically permits compulsory licensing and parallel importing of medications. The agreement is signed by the US and every other member of the World Trade Organization. Parallel importing is the purchase of name-brand drugs from a third party in another country, rather than from the manufacturer. For instance, in Britain, where parallel importing of medications is common, the list price for Glaxo Wellcomešs Retrovir (an AIDS drug) is Ŗ125, but consumers can purchase the same drug imported from other European countries for as little as Ŗ54.

Both measures have been fought aggressively by Gore and by US pharmaceutical companies. Under pressure, Gore recently proposed separate appropriations of $70 million and $100 million to address the AIDS epidemic in Africa. $170 million for Africans with HIV amounts to about $8 per person, or approximately enough money to buy AIDS drugs for one day.

In contrast, Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Charles A. Heimbold receives annual compensation exceeding $146 million.

"Gorešs request for $8 per person with HIV in Africa wonšt save a single life," said activist Emily Dodd. Added ACT UP member Bill Thorne, "Are we electing a president or a drug company representative?"

Activists plan further actions in the coming weeks.

WE DEMAND:

1. Drug Access in Developing Nations

A) Gore, as VP and US Chair of the Bi-National Commission on South Africa, must cease threats of trade sanctions against South Africa and other developing nations that are attempting to provide access to essential AIDS medications through enactment of TRIPS-compliant measures for compulsory licensing and parallel importing.

B) The South African government must be allowed to implement its Medicines and Related Substances Act without opposition from the US Trade Representative or other Administration departments or officials.

C) South Africa must be removed from the USTRšs 301 Watch List, and the out-of-cycle review of intellectual property practices schedule for September, 1999 must be cancelled.

2. Turn Over Rights to Essential Medicines Developed with US tax Dollars to International Health Body

The US must allow an international body such as the World Health Organization to provide essential AIDS medications for which the US government owns or retains substantial rights. This organization should be directed to manufacture and distribute drugs at or below cost to developing nations. Candidate drugs include ddI, 3TC, and Ritonavir.

Gorešs Ties to the Pharmaceutical Industry: - DAVID BEIER
Top in-house Genentech lobbyist, now Gorešs chief domestic policy advisor.

- ANTHONY PODESTA
Key PhRMA lobbyist, brother of Clinton Chief of Staff John Podesta, who is a friend and advisor to Gore; was paid $160,000 by PhRMA and $260,000 by Genentech between January, 1997 and June, 1998 as their lobbyist.

- PETER KNIGHT
Gorešs head fundraiser, paid $120,000 to lobby for Schering-Plough in the first half of 1998.

- TOM DOWNEY
Close Gore advisor and Merck lobbyist.

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