The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41290

Martin T Donohoe, MD, FACP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and Senior Scholar, Center for Ethics in Health Care, Oregon Health and Science University, 3718 Rivers Edge Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034, 503/819-6979, martin.donohoe@verizon.net

Almost all food animals raised in the US receive antibiotics to “promote growth.” Agricultural antibiotic use is the dominant source of antibiotic resistance among food-borne pathogens affecting humans. Bacterial infections resistant to fluoroquinolone antimicrobials has been rising, in part due to overuse of Bayer’s agricultural flouroquinolone enrofloxacin (Baytril). Recently, the FDA proposed banning the use of fluoroquinolones in poultry. Despite calls from APHA, Bayer is fighting the ban.

Bayer also stands to make large profits off of ciprofloxacin (Cipro), through prescriptions ($4.50 per pill in drugstores) and sales to the US government, for a proposed stockpile to treat a potential 10 million exposed patients ($0.95 per pill, twice what the government pays under another program). The government has the authority to license generic production of ciprofloxacin by other companies ($0.20 per pill) in the event of a public health emergency, but refused to deem recent anthrax exposures (and the potential for widespread bioweapon attack) such an emergency. Why? Because doing so would have weakened its case, presented to the recent WTO meeting, that the massive suffering consequent to 25 million AIDS cases in sub-Saharan African nations does not constitute enough of a public health emergency to permit these countries to obtain and produce cheaper generic versions of largely unavailable anti-AIDS drugs. The government’s stance is likely related to recent record campaign donations from drug companies. Fortunately, the WTO voted in favor of the developing world.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the scope of the problem of overuse of antibiotics in agriculture, especially its impact on human health.
• Describe how the Bayer corporation, maker of Baytril (an agricultural antibiotic) and Cipro (a human antibiotic used to treat anthrax), has put sales before public health, with the assistance of U.S. policymakers.
• Discuss the influence of the World Trade Organization and U.S. corporate campaign donations on the U.S. government's deal with Bayer to purchase of Cipro for treatment of possible anthrax outbreaks due to bioterrorism.
• Articulate solutions to the problem of excessive influence of pharmaceutical companies on public health and national security policy.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Public Health Infrastructure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Bayer corporation
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.