[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 110 (Wednesday, September 4, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8197-S8198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     CONGRATULATING GLAXOSMITHKLINE

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate 
GlaxoSmithKline, GSK, on achieving an important milestone in its work 
to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, LF. Last month, the pharmaceutical 
company produced the one hundred-millionth tablet of its drug 
albendazole for donation to LF patients, marking a significant step 
toward eradicating this devastating disease.

[[Page S8198]]

  Lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, is a disabling 
and disfiguring tropical disease caused by thread-like worms that live 
in the human lymphatic system. It mainly affects people in the tropical 
and sub-tropical areas of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Approximately 
120 million people are affected by LF, with more than one billion 
people at risk of infection.
  In 1998, GlaxoSmithKline and the World Health Organization formed the 
Global Alliance to Eliminate LF. The goals of the Alliance are to 
interrupt transmission of LF, country by country, until LF has been 
eliminated as a public health problem. GSK supports the Alliance by 
donating its antiparasitic drug albendazole and by helping with 
initiatives for coalition-building, planning, training, and 
communications.
  LF is one of the world's leading causes of disability, affecting 
people in nearly 80 countries. The estimated economic loss through 
disability, illness, and missed work days is in the billions of dollars 
each year. By breaking the cycle of infection between mosquitoes and 
humans, the administration of albendazole is an important component of 
sparing the next generation from the deforming manifestations of LF.
  GlaxoSmithKline maintains its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia, and 
I am proud to represent the company's 6,000 Pennsylvania employees 
searching for cures and treatments to improve the lives of citizens 
worldwide. I commend GSK for its dedication to the eradication of 
lymphatic filariasis and wish the company success in fulfilling its 
commitment to produce and donate 6 billion albendazole tablets to this 
end.

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