[Ip-health] Press release: NGOs demand that Novartis withdraws legal actions in India

[reinhard]

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Press release from the Berne Declaration

NGOs and personalities demand that Novartis withdraws legal actions in Indi=
a

In an open letter to Daniel Vasella, chairman and CEO of Novartis, that was
disclosed today, 22 organizations and personalities demand that Novartis
withraws its legal actions against the Indian Patent Act and the rejection
of its patent application for a life-saving cancer drug (Gleevec=AE - Imati=
nib
Mesylate). This letter from the Berne Declaration is endorsed in particular
by the Swiss Cancer League, the Swiss Aids Federation, M=E9decins Sans
Fronti=E8res Switzerland, Mrs. Ruth Dreifuss and the Association of Europea=
n
Cancer Leagues*.

Following the rejection of its patent application for a life-saving cancer
drug (imatinib mesylate - Gleevec=AE)** by the Chennai Patent Office, Novar=
tis
filed two cases not only challenging the rejection of its patent applicatio=
n
but also the section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Act, on which the decision i=
s
based (exclusion of patentability for new forms or new uses of known
substances). Novartis claims that section 3(d) is not in conformity with th=
e
WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Porperty Rights
(TRIPS). However, this provision is recognized as one of the flexibilities
given to a country to adapt the TRIPS agreement to its public health needs.
The first hearing took place in September.

The NGOs and personalities are extremely concerned about the consequences o=
f
Novartis' legal action on access to essential or life-saving generic
medicines (e.g. against AIDS or cancer), not only in India, but also in
other developing countries. India is today the main provider of generic
medicines against HIV/AIDS in developing countries. The NGOs and
personalities are "shocked that five years after the end of the trial
brought by Novartis and other pharmaceutical laboratories against the South
African government, Novartis is trying again to restrict the flexibility
given to a country to adapt the TRIPS agreement to its public health needs.=
"
They demand that Novartis withdraws its legal actions against the Indian
Patent Act and the decision of the Indian Patent Office on Gleevec=AE.

For more information contact:
Julien Reinhard (Berne Declaration): +41 21 620 03 06

The open letter is available on:   www.evb.ch/fr/p25011413.html

Background information:   www.evb.ch/fr/p25011414.html

*List of organizations and personalities endorsing this letter:
Organizations
- Aids-Hilfe Bern, Mr Kurt P=E4rli, Chairman & Mrs B=E9atrice Aebersold
Kr=E4henb=FChl, Director
- Aids-Hilfe beider Basel, Mr Stefan Moser, Director
- Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), Mr Bruno Meili, President
- Berne Declaration, Mr Julien Reinhard, Campaign Director
- Bethleem Mission Immensee, Mr Stefan Siebenhaar, Campaign Director
- CO-OPERAID, Dr. Rao Satapati, Director
- Groupe sida Gen=E8ve, M. David Perrot, Director
- M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res - Suisse, Mr Christian Captier, General Dire=
ctor
- medicuba, Dr. med. Christian Jordi, President
- MIVA Schweiz, Mr Marco Medici, Director
- Pharmaciens Sans Fronti=E8res - Suisse, Mrs M.-J. Barbalat, President
- SID'Action (Lausanne), Mme Patricia Grigolin, Director
- SolidarMed Suisse, Dr. med. Pepo Frick, Vice-President
- Swiss Aids Care International, Mme Susann M=E4usli, Director
- Swiss Cancer League, Prof. Dr med. Thomas Cerny, President
- Swiss Aids Federation, Mr Franz Walter, Director
- terre des hommes schweiz, Mr Michael Herzka, Director
- terre des hommes suisse, Mr Jean-Luc Pittet, Secretary General

In a private capacity:
- Mrs Ruth Dreifuss, Chairperson from the Commission on Intellectual
Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health, appointed by the World Healt=
h
Organization
- Dr Claudia Kessler Bodiang, member of aidsfocus.ch
- Mr Thomas Schwarz, Co-Director de Medicus Mundi Suisse
- Mrs Helena Zweifel, Coordinator of aidsfocus.ch

** Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec=AE) is a cancer drug crucial in prolonging th=
e
life of patients suffering from Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (Blood Cancer).
Patients must take this drug for the rest of their lives, as long as anothe=
r
type of treatment or cure is not available. Novartis sells Gleevec=AE at Rs=
.
1.44 million (US$ 26'000) per patient per year. Generic versions of the dru=
g
Gleevec=AE in the Indian market are priced at about Rs. 96'000 (US$ 2100) p=
er
patient per year. An Indian cancer patient group filed an opposition to
Novartis' patent application for Imatinib Mesylate. In January 2006, the
Chennai Patent Office decided in favour of the Indian patient group.

--
D=E9claration de Berne - Berne Declaration
Julien Reinhard
52, r. de Gen=E8ve, CH-1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
T=E9l direct: +41-21-620 03 06. Fax: +41-21-620 03 00.
Courriel: reinhard@ladb.ch. Web: www.ladb.ch

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