[Ip-health] AP: US Drug Company Accused Of Making HIV Meds Unaffordable In India

[Mike Palmedo]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051406hiv.htm

US Drug Company Accused Of Making HIV Meds Unaffordable In India

Associated Press
May 14, 2006

(New Delhi) Nearly 150 people demonstrated in New Delhi against U.S.
biotech company Gilead Sciences Inc., which is seeking to patent its
anti-HIV drug in India - a move that could halt local production of the
generic equivalent.

Gilead has applied for an Indian patent on the drug tenofovir, which has
been available in India as the generic tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
since last year.

Delhi Network of Positive People, along with another anti-AIDS
organization, the Indian Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS, filed
an application with the New Delhi Patent Office on Tuesday opposing
Gilead's request.

The company could not immediately be reached for comment, but on its Web
site, Gilead said it has been offering the drug at cost to treatment
programs in eligible developing countries.

Police detained 102 protesters but later allowed them to go home, said
Parath Singh, a police officer.

Nearly 5.21 million people are living with the AIDS virus in India _ the
second highest figure in the world after South Africa.