[Ip-health] "Mandelson keeps mum on Indian drugs case"

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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Please find below an article from the EuroStep Newsletter about the=0D
Novartis issue and the EC position.=0D
=0D
http://www.eurostep.org/wcm/index.php?option=3Dcom_content&task=3Dview&id=
=3D127&Itemid=3D0=0D
Mandelson keeps mum on Indian drugs case=0D
The European Commission has refused to ask the Swiss pharmaceutical giant=
=0D
Novartis to drop its case against an Indian law allowing the manufacture=0D
of affordable medicines.=0D
Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that while the EU executive is=0D
following the case before the Madras High Court with interest, it would=0D
not emulate the European Parliament by requesting that Novartis halt its=0D
litigation. Mandelson said that the Commission=E2=80=99s principle is not t=
o=0D
intervene in such court cases.=0D
Novartis has written recently to all MEPs asking them not to sign a=0D
declaration against the case. The company argued that its case concerns=0D
the patentability of its cancer treatment Glivec and not the wider issue=0D
of access to cheap medicines.=0D
But M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res has expressed concern that the case =
could=0D
lead India to introduce a patent system for medicines similar to that=0D
found in wealthy countries. This would require that each small=0D
modification to a medicine is covered by several patents, thus making it=0D
far more difficult for India to produce cheap generic drugs for developing=
=0D
countries.=0D
More than half of all medicines used for treating AIDS in developing=0D
countries are manufactured in India.=0D
=0D
Sources:=0D
www.msf.org=0D
www.europarl.europa.eu=0D
=0D
###################################=0D
SIGN MSF'S 'DROP THE CASE' PETITION=0D
=0D
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
=0D
MSF is urging Novartis to DROP THE CASE.=0D
=0D
Find out more and sign up to our petition:=0D
http://www.msf.org/petition_india/international.html=0D
####################################=0D
=0D
=0D
Alexandra Heumber=0D
EU Advocacy Liaison Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign=0D
Rue Dupr=C3=A9, 94. 1090 Brussels=0D
++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)=0D
++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)=0D
++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)=0D
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