[Ip-health] MSF Media Alert: Novartis case- Press Teleconference Friday January 26 10 am EST

[Buddhima Lokuge]

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Doctors Without Borders/ M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res (MSF)

For Immediate Release
Contact:
Michael Goldfarb at: +1-212-763-5783; +1-917-353-5408 (mobile)
Kevin Phelan at: +1-212-655-3763; +1-646-201-8230 (mobile)

MEDIA ADVISORY / PRESS TELECONFERENCE

Patients Before Patents: MSF Calls on Novartis to Drop Its Case Against
the Indian Government

WHEN:    Friday January 26, 2007, 10:00 am

CALL IN:        +1-866-283-8245 toll free in the United States
                +1-703-639-1270 from abroad
WHO:
- Unni Karunakara, MD, Medical Director, Campaign for Access to Essential
Medicines, M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res (MSF)
- Loon Gangte, Regional Coordinator, South Asia Collaborative Fund for HIV
Treatment Preparedness (formerly from Delhi Network of Positive People)
- Ellen ?t Hoen, LLM, Policy and Advocacy Director, Campaign for Access to
Essential Medicines, M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res (MSF)
- Christine Genevier, Head of Mission for MSF?s AIDS Treatment Programs in
Kenya

A legal challenge by the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Novartis
against India?s patent law could restrict access to affordable medicines
in Doctors Without Borders/M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res (MSF) projects and
throughout the developing world. MSF is urging Novartis to immediately
drop the case. Novartis has refused and the next hearing of the case will
take place in Chennai High Court on January 29, 2007.

Sometimes called ?the pharmacy to the world?s poor,? India is a major
source of affordable medicines, such as antiretrovirals (ARVs) to treat
people living with HIV/AIDS. Until 2005, Indian companies could freely
produce less expensive generic versions of medicines patented in other
countries. These were used both domestically and in other developing
countries. More than half the medicines currently used for AIDS treatment
in developing countries come from India and such medicines are used to
treat over 80% of the 80,000 AIDS patients in MSF?s 30 AIDS projects
worldwide.

India introduced amendments to its patent laws in 2005 to comply with
World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. While these laws contain
provisions that help put people before patents, Novartis is taking the
Indian government to court to force their removal. The company is
challenging a key public health safeguard enshrined within India?s Patents
Act that aims to restrict the granting of trivial patents. If Novartis
gets its way, it could mean that essential drugs are more likely to be
patented in India, thereby restricting generic production and keeping
prices for newer medicines high.
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Dr Buddhima Lokuge
U.S Manager
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Doctors Without Borders/M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res (MSF)
333 Seventh Avenue, 2nd Floor,
New York, NY   10001
Tel:        +1-212-655-3762
Mobile: +1-917-331-9077
Fax:       +1-212-679-7016
Email:   buddhima.lokuge@newyork.msf.org
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/access/index.cfm
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