[Ip-health] Thai GPO produces tablet ddI, Zambia and Thai joint venture to expand production of ddI for sale in 13 African countries

[James Love]

http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=displaynews&doc_id=NR20021019670.2_862f00055e3da2d6

GPO to soon make tablet form of ddI

October 18, 2002 11:42pm

Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
10/19/2002

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The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation will start making a tablet form
of the anti-Aids drug didanosine (ddI) in three months, director Thongchai
Thavichachart has said.

The decision comes after an Oct 1 ruling by the Central Intellectual
Property and International Trade Court limiting the exclusive rights of
Bristol-Myers Squibb to sell ddI in its 5-100mg tablet form.

Dr Thongchai said the GPO would initially make 5,000 tablets of ddI 125mg,
but would hold off marketing the product until he was sure Bristol-Myers
Squibb would not appeal. The GPO currently makes a powdered form of ddI 170
mg, which sells for 20 baht a packet.

Meanwhile, the Thai and Zambian ministries of Public Health are discussing a
joint venture to make the anti-Aids drug, deputy health minister Pracha
Phromnok has said.

The plant would be built in Zambia and would enable the Thai government to
expand its production of ddI, he said.

Zambian health minister Dr B. Chituwo said 20% of Zambia's population was
infected by HIV/Aids. Even with cooperation from American and European drug
manufacturers, his government could not give so many people access to
treatment without outside help.

"We have the political will to provide anti-retroviral drugs as part of our
health programme, but we can't afford the drug," he said.

Dr Chituwo said the manufacturing plant would not only benefit Zambia, but
also enable another 13 countries in the Southern African development zone to
enjoy access to more affordable generic drugs.

Dr Thongchai said the plant would cost US$1 million (about 42 million baht)
and would take a year to build.

Copyright 2002.  All Rights Reserved.
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James Love, Consumer Project on Technology
http://www.cptech.org, mailto:love@cptech.org
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