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> > >NEW YORK – After issuing a warning, Pfizer Inc. said >it has cut off several Canadian Internet pharmacies >for exporting its drugs, raising tension between >pharmaceutical firms and American patients seeking >less-expensive medicines. > >The world's biggest drug company wouldn't say >yesterday how many companies received the Feb. 12 >letter, which said the pharmacies violated business >agreements by either selling drugs to individuals >outside Canada or selling to others who would export. >The letter said Pfizer's authorized distributors in >Canada were told to cut the companies off immediately. > >The most recent letter comes after New York-based >Pfizer sent a warning to pharmacies last month, >reminding them that they could not sell drugs outside >Canada and would need authorization to buy from >wholesalers. That letter also said Pfizer reserved the >right to examine drugstores' previous buying patterns. > >"I think it is atrocious what they are doing," said >Jeff Uhl, president of Universaldrugstore.com, which >received one of the letters and has been cut off. "We >are just trying to fill prescriptions for people who >can't afford their drugs in the United States. If >Pfizer really cared about these people, they would >just lower their prices." > >Uhl said he has stockpiles of Pfizer drugs that >include the cholesterol-lowering agent Lipitor, the >world's best-selling drug. > >In a statement, Pfizer said its moves were designed to >protect the safety of patients and the integrity of >the pharmaceutical supply system. > >Few Internet pharmacy executives and patients who use >the services believe such statements. > >Pfizer and four other drug companies, citing supply >and safety concerns, have limited shipments to >Canadian pharmacies to keep drugs from being sold to >Americans seeking cheaper medicines. Internet pharmacy >executives say it is getting harder and more expensive >to buy drugs from those companies but vow to continue >with their businesses. > >Prescription drugs are up to 50 percent less expensive >in Canada because of government price controls. > >It is illegal for Americans to import drugs from >Canada, but regulators have largely ignored >individuals who fill their prescriptions over the >border. Two American cities have programs that allow >workers to buy drugs from Canada, and scores of mayors >and governors are considering following their lead.

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