AstraZeneca chief elected head of PhRMA
07 Apr 2009
AstraZeneca boss David Brennan has been elected board chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
He was officially presented with the gavel by previous head Dick Clark, chief executive and president of Merck, at the group's annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
In a speech to delegates, Mr Brennan called on the industry to help uninsured and under-insured people who are struggling to pay for medicines due to the financial crisis.
"Without routine access to a physician and to preventive care there will most likely be an increase in the prevalence of the chronic diseases - like diabetes," he said.
He also stressed the need for adequate funding for the US Food and Drug Administration so that it can effectively review "innovative treatments" for patients.
PhRMA represents the leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in the US and aims to encourage the discovery of new and important medicines for patients.
