Transnational corporations

Question 1

What is a TNC?

Answer 1

A company that operates in at least two countries; usually with its R&D and HQ department in the country of origin and manufacturing plants overseas

Question 2

Patented drugs

Answer 2

Medicines that have been developed by a company and has claimed rights on production. No can develop this product within their permission. Companies can patent holders with a license

Question 3

Lobbying

Answer 3

Presenting a case to a government and legislators on behalf of a client.

Question 4

Off patent medicines

Answer 4

Medicines where the patent no longer applies - other companies are allowed to produce

Question 5

Developing new drugs is expensive

Answer 5

• scientists need to be trained then paid for their work
• laboratories and research facilities need to be equipped and managed
• only a small proportion of the drugs developed will ever be deemed sufficiently safe and effective to be sold for profit
• drugs have to be tested before use and monitored in use

Question 6

Examples of big pharmaceutical companies

Answer 6

• Glaxo Smith Kline
• Pfizer
• Johnson & Johnson

Question 7

GlaxoSmithKline

Answer 7

It is the biggest UK-pharmaceutical TNC
They state that: their mission is to improve the qualify of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer
- makes 4 billion packets of medicine and healthcare products each year
- over 15,000 people work in the research teams to discover new medicines
- employs over 100,000 people people in 117 countries
- they shipped over 206 million tablets of preferentially priced anti-retro viral drugs to developing countries

Question 8

Glaxismithklines involvement in HIV/AIDS drugs

Answer 8

Is helping to improve the convenience of delivering anti-retro viral drug therapy

• developing molecules that address drug resistant HIV
• carrying out research into a vaccine against HIV infection
• various community based groups provide a wide range of information, counselling and support services
• these groups form the backbone of the fight against HIV/AIDS in many countries where governments are unable to combat the effects of the epidemic
• GSK works with these groups to combat HIV/AIDS

Question 9

Globalisation

Answer 9

A set of processes leading to the integration of economic, cultural, political and social systems across geographical boundaries.