BMS does in fact have ddI patent protection in Thailand

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

It appears as though BMS does indeed have patent protection for
ddI in Thailand.

  Jamie

-----------
   Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 22:45:13 +0700
  From: "MSF-Drugs Bangkok" <msfdrugs@asianet.co.th>
    To: 
       "James Love" <love@cptech.org>, <lambertr@od31tm1.od.nih.gov>
 

Dear Jamie, 
the information from Richard Lambert about the ddI patent in Thailand is
not true. I have a copy of this patent myself, it was granted last year
to
BMS after an application from 1992. It's the formulation (including a
buffer) that got patented; it followed an equivalent patent from the
European Union. The Thai Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)
was
about to start generic production when the patent was granted. (Process
patents are granted in Thailand since 1979. Product patents are granted
only since 1992.)

The high pricing of ddI by BMS remains therefore an important issue for
PHA
in Thailand and meetings with DHHS about fair pricing are crucial!

However, we have some questions about this patent that we are currently
investigating. Please give us some time and we will keep you updated.  

Tido

Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MD
Médecins sans frontières
311, Ladphrao, Soi 101
Bangkok 10240 
Thailand
Tel. +66-2-375-6491
Fax +66-2-374-9835
msfdrugs@asianet.co.th

> > From: James Love <love@cptech.org>
> > To: Multiple recipients of list IP-HEALTH <ip-health@essential.org>
> > Subject: NIH says ddI not under patent in Thailand and South Africa,
> because US government never obtained rights in these countries
> > Date: 13 May 2542 6:57
> > 
> > Interesting bit of news regarding HIV drug ddI.
> > 
> > According to Richard A. Lambert NIH (LAMBERTR@OD31TM1.OD.NIH.GOV ), the
> > US government never obtained South African or Thailand patent rights
for
> > ddI.  Therefore, South Africa and Thailand can right now buy ddI from a
> > generic supplier.   ddI is of course also under a reasonable pricing
> > clause, and the US Department of Health and Human Services is now
> > weighing a request from Thailand NGOs and US Act Up! activists to
> > determine if Bristol-Mysers Squibb is in compliance with the fair
> > pricing clause.  (We met with DHHS about this today).  
> > 
> > 
> >  Jamie
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
> > I can be reached at love@cptech.org, by telephone 202.387.8030,
> > by fax at 202.234.5176. CPT web page is http://www.cptech.org

-- 
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
I can be reached at love@cptech.org, by telephone 202.387.8030,
by fax at 202.234.5176. CPT web page is http://www.cptech.org