What does an internet piracy bill have to do with drug companies? The controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) was endorsed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the chief “Big Pharma” lobbyist representing 47 pharmaceutical companies, many of whom produce AIDS drugs.

Though PhRMA has released no official statement on their rationale for supporting the bill, free speech and health care advocates are speculating that drug companies are concerned about competition from online drug retailers, particularly in Canada and India that are promising drugs for American citizens at much lower costs than what can be purchased in the US. They are also likely to argue they’re protecting the safety of the public by preventing people for paying for drugs online that are ineffective, completely fake, or even harmful.

Well, if PhRMA and its member companies are so concerned about the health of the American public, why did they spent $57.18 million since 2009 on lobbying on issues like opposing the public option in the health care reform bill and implementation?

If all people with HIV had access to low-cost treatment and care domestically, they wouldn’t be tempted to risk buying prescription drugs from an unknown source online.

Read more on the SOPA bill.

UPDATE: Responding to the mounting protests, the SOPA bill sponsors removed their names from the bill.

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