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Drug firms abandon fight to stop cut-price medicines

This content was published on Apr 19, 2001 The 39 drugs’ firms, which include Switzerland’s Novartis and Roche, decided on Thursday to scrap their challenge to a South African law, which allows the country to import cut-price generic drugs. At the hearing in the high court in Pretoria, they also said they would meet the South African government’s legal costs. The case, brought…

Drug firms expected to abandon case over cut-price medicines

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 A lawyer representing the 39 drug companies, which include Switzerland’s Novartis and Roche, said the delay had been requested “so common ground can be found for a settlement”. Aid agencies suggested that the firms had finally caved in pressure amid charges that they were putting profits ahead of lives. A senior policy adviser at the…

Drug firms expected to drop case over cut-price medicines

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The legal battle between 39 pharmaceutical firms and the South African government resumed in the courts on Wednesday, and was immediately postponed at the firms’ request. A lawyer representing the companies, Fanie Cilliers, said the delay had been requested “so common ground can be found for a settlement”. A spokesman representing the South African government…

Court case over cut-price drugs continues in South Africa

This content was published on Apr 18, 2001 The case has led the United Nations programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) to call on pharmaceutical companies to consider new ways of doing business. The hearing, which is taking place in the capital, Pretoria, was postponed last month. It centres on a South African law adopted in 1997 – but never implemented – which gives the…

Swiss firms urged to drop case against cut-price drugs

This content was published on Apr 17, 2001 The two multinationals are among 40 pharmaceutical companies taking the government to court over a law allowing South Africa to import cut-price drugs. The High Court in Pretoria is due to resume its hearing into the case on Wednesday. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the non-governmental organisations said it was “shocking that Novartis and…

Studies support genetic link to suicide

This content was published on Apr 16, 2001 Researchers from psychiatric hospitals in Geneva, Montpellier and Nîmes said the altered gene disrupted the brain’s ability to absorb the chemical serotonin, which regulates mood and anxiety levels. It is well known that low levels of serotonin can lead to depression, eating disorders and other mental illnesses. “These genetic data are consistent with a correlation…

Swiss Army expects 20 per cent of recruits to abandon military service

This content was published on Apr 15, 2001 The figures were revealed by the Swiss newspaper, Sonntagsblick, and confirmed by the spokesman for Swiss Army Generals, Felix Endrich. Recruits who were deemed unfit for military service last year cost the armed forces an estimated SFr10 million, or a loss of 90,000 days of service. Over half of all recruits sent home consumed alcohol…

Swiss pig farmers face deadline over use of certain antibiotics

This content was published on Apr 14, 2001 The edict concerns around thirty drugs which have recently been declared illegal by the Swiss government. Up until now, the Swiss authorities controlled the use of antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, by limiting the maximum concentration of the drug. But the Federal Health Office has now banned any use of these drugs to come in line…

Swiss know-how used to measure world’s highest peaks

This content was published on Apr 13, 2001 An Italian-Argentinian scientific expedition, led by geologist Giorgio Poretti, has been dispatched to the Andes Mountains to provide the most accurate measurement to date of Mount Aconcagua. Using the latest global positioning (GPS) equipment, developed by Heerbrugg-based Leica Geosystems, the team aims to determine the exact eight of summit, give or take a few millimetres.…

Ticino garden earns top award for British ex-diplomat

This content was published on Apr 13, 2001 By any standards, Sir Peter Smithers has led a varied and active life. He has held senior diplomatic posts in Europe and North America, and worked as naval intelligence agent for MI6 with James Bond-creator, Ian Fleming. He also had spells as a member of parliament and secretary-general of the Council of Europe. But somehow…

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Drug firms abandon fight to stop cut-price medicines

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Drug firms expected to abandon case over cut-price medicines

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Drug firms expected to drop case over cut-price medicines

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Court case over cut-price drugs continues in South Africa

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Swiss firms urged to drop case against cut-price drugs

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Studies support genetic link to suicide

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Swiss Army expects 20 per cent of recruits to abandon military service

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Swiss pig farmers face deadline over use of certain antibiotics

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Swiss know-how used to measure world’s highest peaks

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Ticino garden earns top award for British ex-diplomat

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