[Letter to Jonathan Mann from Jon Cohen]

TO: DR. JONATHAN MANN
FROM: JON COHEN
March 19, 1992
Dr. Mann--
I'm doing a story for Science about AIDS vaccine liability
issues. My intent is to go beyond the thumbsucking, oh-my-isn'tthis-dreadful type of story that never introduces anyone truly
facing a liability hurdle. I realize that the subject is as taboo
as incest, but I believe that unless specific issues faced by
specific developers/testers are discussed, possible solutions to
the problems will constantly be back-burnered. Thouqh your
patent-exchange idea ultimately aims to set up a better market
incentive and qglobal distribution scheme, I think it also would
have a profound effect on liability issues. Here, then, are a few
questions I would be much obliged if you could answer either by
fax or by phone:
1. What is the latest on your patent-exchange idea? I remember
six months ago or so you had planned some type of meetinq to hash
thinqs out further. What became of that?
2. Obviously, you hatched the patent-exchange idea because you
perceived a problem. Was liability part of the problem? How does
the patent-exchanqe idea deal with liability?
3. How tangible is the liability issue? Who, specifically, has
decided not to enter the AIDS vaccine arena because of liability
concerns? Who has left the field for liability reasons? What is
not being tested because of liability fears?
I can be reached by phone at either number below at the hours
listed. I share a fax with one of my voice lines, too, though I
have to be here to transfer the call to my machine; Science's fax
is always available: 202-371-9227.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Jon Cohen
3445 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-332-9564 (9-6 weekdays)
202-387-7517 (anytime) 1 III 111 III 11111 111111111
FAX: [phone] (9-6 weekdays) 5571095.0199.060