More pharma aid sent to Haiti
pharmafile | January 21, 2010 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Haiti, disaster, relief
A week after the devastating earthquake in Haiti the number pharma companies sending aid to the stricken country continues to increase.
The disaster has seen an outpouring of support among the industry, and the latest companies to step up with offers of medicines and money include GlaxoSmithKline, Bayer, and Daiichi Sankyo.
GlaxoSmithKline has made initial donations of $1.4 million worth of medicines, in aid that focuses on vital anti-biotics, including: Bactroban, Zovirax, Augmentin, Ceftin, Zinacef and Zantac
The company has also committed approximately $408,000 (£250,000) to the British Red Cross to help meet the water and sanitation needs of those affected by the disaster.
Bayer is providing medicines worth around 90,000 euros for immediate relief through the Red Cross in the Dominican Republic to enable it to be distributed quickly to its neighbour Haiti.
The company has also said it will double the amount donated by its employees through the Bayer Cares Foundation, up to a level of 100,000 euros.
Daiichi Sankyo has announced that it will donate five million Japanese yen (approximately $54,000 US dollars) through the Japanese Red Cross.
At present, the total amount of aid to be donated from the Daiichi Sankyo group has reached 153.5 million Japanese yen (approximately $1.7 million). Additionally, both Daiichi Sankyo and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. will implement ‘Matching Gifts’ programmes for employee donations.
Baxter and its Baxter International Fund have committed $1 million to support disaster relief efforts in response to the earthquake and the Baxter International Foundation has approved $350,000 in grants to support both immediate, acute-care and longer-term needs of the region.
In addition, Baxter is collaborating closely with humanitarian aid partners, AmeriCares and Direct Relief International, to ensure that they have access to critical IV solutions, antibiotics and other vital drugs for the organisations’ relief efforts in the region.
Eisai says its donations, currently over 20 million yen, will be made through either the WHO or the Red Cross. This contribution will comprise $100,000 from Eisai in addition to donations from the company’s US ($100,000), European (£25,000 as a Matching Gift) and Asian subsidiaries.
Finally Astellas announced it will make a donation of five million yen to the Japanese Red Cross.
In addition, its Astellas Pharma US subsidiary has made a donation of $50,000 through the Astellas USA Foundation. Astellas Pharma Europe will also shortly announce a charitable contribution to provide support to the appeal.
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