New chairman for US PhRMA, David Brennan, sets out health reform vision

The US Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has elected Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca's chief executive, David  Brennan, a US citizen, as board chairman replacing Richard Clark, the  CEO and president of US drug major Merck & Co. The handover was  effected at the PhRMA's meeting in San Antonio, Texas, where the new  chairman outlined his vision for the industry.

Mr Brennan began by noting that "we are in the midst of a deepening  global economic recession. Since the onset of this downturn in the  United States alone, over 4.4 million people have lost their jobs and,  in many instances, they've also lost their health insurance. It's not  hyperbole to say that before this recession is over millions more will  join the 47 million other Americans who do not have health insurance."

"Unsustainable" health costs by 2016