The proposed merger of SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome has overshadowed the announcement last Monday of SKB's albendazole-donation programme for eliminating lymphatic filariasis. Just over a year ago Glaxo Wellcome itself announced (not without controversy1) the donation of atovaquone/proguanil for malaria. Merck's ivermectin-donation programme is now in its 11th year.2 Amidst all the current scrambling for corporate power (sorry, “rationalisation”) in the drug industry, these more altruistic initiatives should not be lost sight of.
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