MessageFrom: Buehler, Gary J
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 7:47 AM
To: Dockets, FDA
Subject: FW: Approval of generic ribavirin


-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Graham [mailto:sngraham@centurytel.net] 
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 6:04 PM
To: commissioner@fda.gov; buehler@cder.fda.gov
Cc: 'Michael Ninburg'; Phyllis Beck
Subject: Approval of generic ribavirin



I'd like to encourage both of you to work to get approval for generic ribavirin.  The approval process has dragged on far too long.  As a patient activist in the hepatitis arena, and someone who has witnessed first hand the ravages of hepatitis C on hundreds of Washington State families, I am very concerned that we are not doing enough to get the costs of treatment down for this disease.  In my work with the corrections system, veterans hospitals, and public clinics, it has become more and more clear that out of thousands of potential patients, only a relative handful are being treated, and cost is a major factor in treatment decisions.  Let's get this done.  Thanks.

Steve Graham
President
Hepatitis Education Project
4603 Aurora Ave N
Seattle, WA   98103
206-463-9579