E-DRUG: a 3-drug fixed dose ARV combination for USD 250?
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[a 3-drug fixed combination tablet, taken twice/day, sounds like a
New Generic Entity! Or a "breakthrough branded generic"?
At USD 250 pp/year (incl royalties for big pharma?) this sounds
like good news.
Do E-druggers think this could work in Africa?
Why doesn't the international pharmaceutical industry agree to
waive its patent rights in developing countries, and collaborate
with generic companies to deliver needed drugs?
The roylaties on a generic could earn them more than they earn
currently in the African private sector....
Crossposted from Pharm-Policy with thanks. Copied as fair use. NN]
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The Times of India has reported that CIPLA will produce an inexpensive 3
in 1 pill cocktail called Triomune, which will put nevirapine, d4T and
3TC in one pill. This will involved patents held by Yale, BioChem
Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim, and possibly Glaxo. CIPLA says the
price for this combination pill will be less than $350 per year, after
introduction. I was told the price could fall to $250 per year or less
after product is increased.
This 3 drug combination illustrates an important rationale for
compulsory licensing, addressed in part in HR 1708, just introudced in
the US Congress, which is to permit new products based upon more than
one invention, to be developed. In this case, there are very strong
public health reasons why a single pill HIV drug should be available,
because it will make compliance easier for patients. Ironically, the
big Pharma companies have not be able to consolidate IPR rights and
offer the best combinations that would benefit the public health.
Also, yesterday CIPLA asked its Capetown patent lawyers to proceed with
a case before the SA patent comissioner, asking for licenses for the
patents that are needed for Triomune, as well probably as for AZT and
3TC/AZT combinations, which are needed for sale of CIPLA's duovir.
Jamie
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James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
http://www.cptech.org
1.202.380.3080 fax 1.202.234.5176
mailto:love@cptech.org