[Ip-health] GNP+ calls for inclusion of PLWHA in Brazilian ARV negotiations

[Mike Palmedo]

NEWS RELEASE

GLOBAL NETWORK OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS

DATE: JULY 26, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUBJECT: GNP+ calls for inclusion of PLWHA in Brazilian ARV negotiations
GNP+ supports Brazil=92s access to affordable ARV, PLWHA should be full
partner in ARV negotiations

GNP+, the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, expresses its
concern over current developments in Brazil to make ARV medication
available to all Brazilians living with HIV/ AIDS at an affordable
price. According to GNP+, organizations of people living with HIV/ AIDS
should be regarded as vital partners in ongoing negotiations between the
Brazilian government and ARV producer Abbott Laboratories.

GNP+ shares the concerns of Brazilian PLWHA organizations. Deals with
pharmaceutical companies =96 be it Abbott or any other ARV-producer =96
should be sensitive to the fact there is no universal treatment for
HIV/AIDS. Due to side-effects and drug-resistance each ARV regime has to
be tailored to the individual. Therefore there can be no preferential
prescription of any drug, even if it is more available or affordable as
others.

GNP+, with other PLWHA organizations, believes that compulsory licensing
and domestic generic production of ARV medication are the only way
forward to obtain significant price reductions. These reductions will
most importantly enlarge treatment options in low and middle-income
countries. WTO guidelines are clear; all WTO members are encouraged to
use the flexibilities in the intellectual property rules to promote
access to medicine for all. Countries need not and should not wait for
an emergency.

In addition, GNP+ is concerned about the participation of Brazilian
PLWHA organizations in ongoing negotiations and implores the Brazilian
government to try and gain its benefits by actively involving national
PLWHA organizations. PLWHA can bring a depth of personal and
professional knowledge of HIV/AIDS to the negotiations . The
organizations should be viewed and treated as a full partner in the
negotiations with Abbott and others, around making available affordable
ARV treatment.

Background information

Last month, Brazil declared the ARV combination lopinavir/ritonavir
(Kaletra) produced by Abbott a Public Interest Medicine. This
declaration is of high significance as under WTO guidelines, this would
make it possible for Brazil to break Abbott=92s patent and start producing
generic versions of the medication. Such a happening would be of great
importance to many other low income countries where HIV/Aids has become,
or is threatening to become, a public health crisis.

Shortly after the declaration, the Brazilian Ministry of Health
announced there had been a deal in negotiations between the Ministry and
Abbott on a gradual decrease of the individual prize of Kaletra. Under
the deal Brazil would keep spending the same amount of money on Kaletra,
but would gradually be able to make the ARV available to more people.

In addition, Abbott would start transferring the technology for
producing Kaletra, three years before their Brazilian patent would
expire in 2015.

Only one week later however, Brazil=92s newly appointed Minister of Health
Mr. Jos=E9 Saraiva Felipe, announced the deal void, because cost reduction
was insufficient and time delay for technology transfer was too long.
Now Abbott and Brazil are back at the drawing table.

Brazil is currently also in negotiations with Gilead Sciences and Merck
for reduced prices on Tenofovir and Efavirenz, two other widely used
AIDS drugs.

ENDS