Mr. Tony O'Brien:

It is logical that while the process is ongoing and patients are unclear as to the outcome they will raise their concerns and reflect them here, and the committee will raise those concerns on their behalf. It does to some extent affect the negotiating position that the company takes. Anyone involved in a negotiation will take a view as to where the strength of the argument lies and who will have to blink first. Ultimately we blinked, because it got to the point at which we were satisfied that the company would not change its position and that to carry on would render no benefit.

I do not resile in any sense from the comments I made. While it is reasonable for drug companies to seek to recover the money they invest in development and some element of profit, I believe in this case we are seeing excess profitability. It is not only reasonable but essential that we draw attention to that and seek to secure a reasonable cost for drugs, given that ultimately the overall budget is limited.