[Ip-health] MSF: G8 Declaration Will Directly Harm Access to Medicines Across the Developing World

[Sheila.SHETTLE@geneva.msf.org]

G8 Declaration on Innovation and Intellectual Property Will Directly Harm=
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              Access to Medicines Across the Developing World=0D
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Heiligendamm, 7 June 2007 =E2=80=93 The G8 leaders=E2=80=99 agreement to de=
mand higher=0D
levels of intellectual property protection in emerging economies is set to=
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have a major negative impact on access to affordable medicines in all=0D
developing countries and fails to promote health innovation where it is=0D
most needed, the international medical humanitarian organization M=C3=A9dec=
ins=0D
Sans Fronti=C3=A8res (MSF) said today.=0D
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Middle-income countries such as India and Brazil are key producers of=0D
affordable essential medicines that are used locally and across the=0D
developing world.  Generic medicines produced in India, for example, make=
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up more than 80% of antiretrovirals (ARVs) used by MSF to treat over 80,000=
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patients in its AIDS projects in over 30 countries. The day before meeting=
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a number of developing country leaders, the G8 have already decided to=0D
create a new process to further increase patent protection in the=0D
developing world, in particular in emerging economies.=0D
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=E2=80=9CIf the G8 further increases patent protection, it will keep prices=
 of new=0D
drugs across Africa, Asia and Latin America high and will do nothing to=0D
stimulate innovation where it is most needed,=E2=80=9D said Dr. Tido von=0D
Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF=E2=80=99s Campaign for Access to Essential=
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Medicines. =E2=80=9CWe need AIDS medicines that are more affordable and we =
also=0D
desperately need new and better tests and medicines to treat tuberculosis=
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and tropical diseases.=E2=80=9D=0D
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A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) released in April 2006=0D
found that intellectual property protection does not stimulate development=
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of medicines to treat diseases that primarily affect people in developing=
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countries. Yet G8 leaders solely promote increased intellectual property=0D
protection as the way to foster innovation. Although WHO has set up an=0D
intergovernmental working group to address the problem of innovation and=0D
access for developing countries, the G8 is flatly ignoring this process.=0D
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Counterfeit medicines are a danger to people=E2=80=99s health that received=
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particular attention by the G8. Similar attention should have been paid to=
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the need for affordable, quality generic medicines upon which poor=0D
countries can rely.=0D
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With international trade laws making medicines patenting far more=0D
widespread, newer drugs are becoming unaffordable.  Newer medicines are=0D
critical, e.g. for the treatment of AIDS, where a second-line drug=0D
combination costs at least five times more than first line.=0D
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To address high drug prices, countries such as Brazil and Thailand have=0D
recently overcome patent barriers by issuing =E2=80=98compulsory licenses=
=E2=80=99 on=0D
several drugs. Although these measures are fully compliant with the TRIPS=
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Agreement of the World Trade Organization, these countries are facing=0D
unacceptable pressure and retaliation from some governments and=0D
pharmaceutical companies.=0D
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By ignoring fora that have traditionally dealt with intellectual property=
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and instead only inviting five emerging economies to talks, the G8 is=0D
ignoring the critical input of other developing countries, whose own=0D
ability to obtain affordable and appropriate medicines is affected by such=
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discussions.=0D
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=E2=80=9CStricter levels of intellectual property protection will only wors=
en the=0D
health crisis in developing countries, where medicines are either=0D
unaffordable or simply not available because there is no market to=0D
incentivise their development,=E2=80=9D said Rohit Malpani, Policy Advisor =
with=0D
Oxfam.=0D
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Contact:=0D
Sheila Shettle + 41.79.293.0270, Christiane L=C3=B6ll + 49.163.88 08 405=0D
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Sheila Shettle=0D
Senior Communications Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Rue de Lausanne 78=0D
1211 Geneva, Switzerland=0D
+ 41.22.849.8403=0D
+ 41.79.293.0270 (m.)=0D
www.accessmed-msf.org=0D
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SIGN MSF'S 'DROP THE CASE' PETITION=0D
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Millions of people around the world today rely on affordable medicines=0D
produced in India.  Pharmaceutical company Novartis is taking the Indian=0D
government to court to force a change in the country's patent law.  If=0D
Novartis wins, a major source of affordable medicines for millions of=0D
people across the globe could dry up.=0D
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MSF is urging Novartis to DROP THE CASE.=0D
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Find out more and sign up to our petition:=0D
http://www.msf.org/petition_india/international.html=0D
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