[Ip-health] Argentina, Brazil Question Swine Flu Vaccine Patents

[peter maybarduk]

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2nd UPDATE: Argentina,Brazil Question Swine Flu Vaccine Patents
Dow Jones
July 24, 2009: 02:40 PM ET

(Updates to include comments and direct quotes from Argentina's
president.)

BUENOS AIRES -(Dow Jones)- The presidents of Argentina and Brazil
suggested Friday that developing countries be allowed to lift patent
rights so they can produce more vaccines to battle the A/H1N1 swine
flu epidemic.

"It would be very advantageous to propitiate a kind of lifting or
suspension of the patents law because the World Health Organization
has recognized that we're dealing with an epidemic," Argentine
President Cristina Fernandez said in a speech at a regional Mercosur
leaders summit in Paraguay.

Fernandez said failing to act could mean "condemning millions of
people to death" while "suspending" the patents law could save
millions of lives.

"I hope this won't be misconstrued because I'm not talking about
disavowing patent law," Fernandez said. "I'm saying that given this
unprecedented pandemic recognized by the WHO, many times some
laboratories cannot keep up with world demand [for vaccines]."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposed that leaders
discuss breaking the patents law to help contain the epidemic,
according to a report by Brazil's state news agency, Agencia Brasil.

The news agency said Brazilian Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao is
negotiating with all vaccine producers to boost the vaccine's
availability.

"Brazil is willing to defend the health security of its population,"
the minister was quoted as saying.

Brazil has been adept in recent years at getting pharmaceutical
companies to offer discounts on HIV medication. In 2007 the
government issued a compulsory license to break the patent on an
antiretroviral AIDS drug made by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck &
Co. (MRK).

Argentina's Fernandez said Argentina and Brazil both have highly
developed pharmaceutical industries and should be able to produce
vaccine "that wouldn't be free," Argentina's state news agency,
Telam, reported.

"But," Telam quoted the president as saying, "it's beyond question
that we're confronting a situation in which the needs of millions of
people cannot be subordinated to economic interests."

Mercosur is a regional customs union founded by Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay and Uruguay.

-By Taos Turner, Dow Jones Newswires; 5411-4103-6728;
taos.turner@dowjones.com

   (END) Dow Jones Newswires
   07-24-09 1440ET
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