Terrific! The form does not specify anything as optional except "Why is this important to you". Thanks for the information. I don't know if failure to complete the form in its entirety will count effective to the purpose.
Their privacy policy provides clear information regarding petition signing.
http://www.change.org/about/privacy
It is possible to sign the petition without putting in private personal details. The only real requirement is an email address which they use to verify your who you say you are. I never received anything but initial verification.
Collaboration on Hepatitis Drugs Lags: BMS & Gilead
By ANDREW POLLACK
NY Times Published: April 19, 2012
A combination of two pills proved extremely effective in treating hepatitis C in a small trial, raising hopes among researchers that the disease will be curable without an injected drug that has debilitating side effects.
A machine purifying a drug at a Gilead Sciences laboratory in California.
But the combination might not find its way to the market because one pill is owned by Gilead Sciences and the other by Bristol-Myers Squibb. The companies have not agreed to collaborate, to the chagrin of some doctors.
http://www.natap.org/2012/EASL/EASL_45.htm
Some more information:
Bristol-Myers' Hepatitis Stumble Boosts Gilead, Vertex
By Brett Chase Aug 02, 2012 11:35 am
The big drug maker is halting a study for what was believed to be a promising treatment for hepatitis C. Gilead shares rally as Bristol-Myers falls
The big drug maker suspended a study of what was believed to be a promising experimental treatment for the liver-wasting virus. “This voluntary action was taken to protect patient safety based on the emergence of a serious safety issue,” Bristol-Myers says in a statement. “The cause of the safety issue and any potential relationship to study drug are unknown at this time
Read more: http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/biotech-pharma/articles/bristol-myers-squibb-gilead-sciences-hepatitis/8/2/2012/id/42915#ixzz28YN24x2x
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Achillion Deal Looming as Hepatitis Drugs Fail: Real M&A
By Ryan Flinn and Will Robinson on August 29, 2012
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) last week said it was abandoning an experimental hepatitis C pill it obtained through its February purchase of Inhibitex Inc. after one patient died and others were hospitalized while taking the drug in a study. This week, Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. said U.S. regulators halted its study of a similar therapy, marking the second hold on clinical trials for the company this month.
Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-28/achillion-takeover-looms-as-hepatitis-treatments-fail-real-m-and-a
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Please use careful consideration before entering personal data over the internet.
Randy
http://www.change.org/petitions/gilead-sciences-please-collaborate-with-bristol-myers-for-the-cure-for-hepatitis-c-now. Please sign this petition to release the two pill cure for hep c!