Re: Kevin W. Sharer’s Oct. 27 commentary, “Biotechnology industry backs Proposition 78�:
Reading Mr. Sharer’s defamation of Proposition 79 and his adoration of the biotech industry’s total support for the proposition they wrote, Proposition 78, Star readers should ask, “Why this great interest in this issue, and why Amgen’s interest?� Could it be that under our current system, Amgen’s profits have risen dramatically during the last two years and will, it is estimated, continue to grow handsomely?
Users of medications may be the root cause of some of the very high costs of drugs. Many people, it appears, actually urge their doctors to prescribe. Furthermore, many people actually believe that the purple pill is the perfect answer to a stomach problem and fail to insist on a generic medication whenever this alternative is available.
I would hope that prudent consumers would become aware that Proposition 79 is the most appropriate first step in negotiating reduced prices for medications. Our governor is opposed to 79, and that, I believe, is most unfortunate. It may be that he is too closely related to the drug manufacturers.
Review the Proposition 79 literature and give it your full consideration.
— Al Surwin, Ventura
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