Fw: Occupy Novartis Wednesday

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From: Tom Matt <cardinal109@...>Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:45:40 -0500 (EST)<agitator@...>; <anthony@...>; <beachpondw@...>; <santosiempre@...>; <davbri4839@...>; <janfreeborn@...>; <LAfurtado@...>; <heg@...>; <h.ross@...>; <DLharrop@...>; <stephenh@...>; <holly.fbc@...>; <hrivera1966@...>; <info@...>; <jenncrooks@...>; <Jillsv@...>; <WKenney@...>; <kenweiss@...>; <laura.pisaturo@...>; <lefebvr@...>; <lewisweiner@...>; <erictruro@...>; <sobesean@...>; <mattmmad@...>; <Mckereghan@...>; <petmit@...>; <mpowerslicsw@...>; <nelsonvergel@...>; <paulf@...>; <GPenfield@...>; <pucksapunk@...>; <danieljreynen@...>; <rob.carman2007@...>; <roo79stephen@...>; <roosterbear@...>; <sailor1125@...>; <Bsharaf@...>; <lensmith1@...>; <sutter.larry@...>; <tcpautler@...>; <terry@...>; <Petetown@...>; <marcusvarner@...>; <vernonporter@...>; <williamwkenney@...>Subject: Occupy Novartis WednesdayI plan to be there in case anyone wants to join me. This is a record setting case that will effect not just HIV meds but all Generic Meds that might be made in India in the future. If your not going to attend...please be there with us in spirit. Tom Matt Near Boston? Occupy Novartis Next Week!Boston Rally to Occupy Novartis: They're Making a Killing in ProfitsPharma giant Novartis is putting profits over lives - put an end to their corporate greedWednesday, February 22, at 4:30 PMNovartis Research & Development Center, Cambridge (near MIT - exact building TBD)What does a case in India's Supreme Court have to do with health care around the world? Everything.India is "the pharmacy of the developing world," providing over 80% of the AIDS medicines used in poor countries. Thanks to the generic industry in India, AIDS drugs now cost as little as $80 per patient per year. But Novartis, a major pharmaceutical company, is trying to change all that.Novartis is suing the government of India over a patent on its cancer drug, Glivec. If it wins the case in India's Supreme Court this month, it won't just affect Indian patients who need Glivec -- it will dramatically change the way India gives patents. Instead of being able to block most the 1000s of silly pharmaceutical patents filed every year, India will have to adopt the same standards as the US (which granted over 800 patents on one AIDS medicine, ritonavir, alone). Every new patent delays generic competition -- which means more patients die because they can't afford their medicines. Indian activists have been calling for coordinated, global action to protect the "pharmacy of the poor." The Novartis's annual shareholders meeting will be held on February 23 in Basel, Switzerland, where protests are planned. We want our protest on to hit the news the day of their big profit-making celebration, so we're gathering at their labs in Cambridge on February 22 (and we'll be standing in solidarity with other protests in New York & around the world!)Join us to protest Novartis, because they're putting profits over people.Want to come? Contact Margie (margie@...) Want to help with press? Contact Darshali (darshvader720@...)Want to learn more? Contact Prof. Brook Baker (b.baker@...) and check out this and thisClick here to unsubscribe