[Ip-health] HIV drugs to cost more as cos rush for patents

[Clio.VAN.CAUTER@geneva.msf.org]

Sorry bad email....=0D
=0D
=0D
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Healthcare__Biote=
ch/HIV_drugs_to_cost_more_as_cos_rush_for_patents/articleshow/2615823.cms=
=0D
=0D
HIV drugs to cost more as cos rush for patents=0D
12 Dec, 2007, 0148 hrs IST, TNN=0D
=0D
NEW DELHI: Treatment of HIV patients in India could get costlier as global=
=0D
pharmaceutical companies have started securing patents for drugs used to=0D
treat AIDS and related diseases. Global major Pfizer received the patent=0D
for Maraviroc in June this year. Roche has also received patents for its=0D
two drugs used to treat Hepatitis C and cytomegalovirus retinitis=0D
(blindness), diseases which are common with HIV patients.=0D
=0D
There are around 2.5 million HIV patients in India and once companies=E2=80=
=99 gets=0D
patents for their drugs, government, HIV organisations and individuals will=
=0D
not have an affordable option of generic drugs. Pfizer drug Maraviroc is a=
=0D
second line anti-retroviral drug used to treat patients who have developed=
=0D
resistance to first line of medications. At present, there are no generic=
=0D
equivalents for the drug worldwide.=0D
=0D
However, patients groups are likely to challenge the patent for Maraviroc.=
=0D
=E2=80=9CThe Indian patent office has given approval even though the Europe=
an=0D
regulator has withheld its decision for lack of sufficient details. The=0D
company has not even registered the drug in India after getting marketing=
=0D
approval in the US in August. We will have to check the medical benefits of=
=0D
this drug and its market before deciding on the future course of action, =
=E2=80=9D=0D
says an NGO official.=0D
=0D
Network of people living with HIV, an NGO, has already made a post grant=0D
opposition for Roche=E2=80=99s drug Pen-interferon, which is used to treat=
=0D
Hepatitis C. According to some estimates, the cost of pen-interferon for=0D
six months is around $5000. Another drug of Roche, Valganciclovir, used to=
=0D
treat blindness in HIV patients has also got patent approval. This could=0D
cost around $10,273 for 3 months. Cipla has moved a post grant opposition=
=0D
against Valganciclovir patent.=0D
=0D
Pfizer on its part said that it will make available affordable drugs in=0D
India. =E2=80=9CWe are in the process of complying with necessary regulatio=
ns for=0D
registering Maraviroc in India. Therefore it is too premature to comment on=
=0D
launch details. However we are committed to bringing meaningful improvement=
=0D
to the lives of people living with and those at risk of HIV/AIDS through=0D
outreach programs that will enable access of innovative medicines to=0D
patients.=E2=80=9D=0D
=0D
Clio Van Cauter=0D
Communications Officer=0D
Medecins Sans Frontieres=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Tel:+41 22 849 8403=0D
E-mail: clio.van.cauter@geneva.msf.org=0D