More Than Half of Experts Fighting
The 'Pandemic' Have Ties To Drug Industry
More than half the scientists on the swine flu taskforce advising
the Government have ties to drug companies.
Eleven of the 20 members of the Scientific Advisory Group for
Emergencies (SAGE) have done work for the pharmaceutical industry
or are linked to it through their universities.
Many have declared interests in GlaxoSmithKline, the vaccine
maker expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the pandemic.
The disclosure of the register of interests comes just days after
a health expert branded the swine flu outbreak a 'false pandemic'
driven by the drug companies which stood to profit.
The Government is now trying to offload up to £1billion
worth of unwanted swine flu vaccine.
Last July, the Department of Health warned of up 65,000 deaths,
with 350 a day at the pandemic's peak. But the death toll now
stands at just 251.
SAGE was created to give Ministers recommendations on how to
control and treat the virus.
Official documents show some members are linked to vaccine manufacturer
Baxter and to Roche, which makes Tamiflu.
GSK, Baxter and Roche stand to make up to £1.5billion between
them from Government contracts related to swine flu.
The scientists declared the interests to the Department of Health.
They were not obliged to declare the amounts they earned but
they are thought to range from around £500 for a lecture
or presentation to more than £100,000 for a directorship
of GSK.
Some will simply be heads of university research departments
which received funding from companies.
January 15, 2010
|
More
More
