# E-DRUG: AZT patented? **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [October 5, 1999, 8:58pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-azt-patented/6231 "1999-10-05T20:58:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![msmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@msmith](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/msmith)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 8:58pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-azt-patented/6231/1 "1999-10-05T20:58:47Z")
E-DRUG: AZT patented? --------------------- Could you please tell me if AZT is still under patent law for treatment of HIV or not? Thanks Mohga Smith OXFAM Email: msmith@oxfam.org.uk [simple question but difficult answer. Patents have nothing to do with indications (HIV) but only with the product AZT (zidovudine). Patents are national: assuming your question relates to UK, you have to ask the UK patents office till when the Glaxo-Wellcome AZT patent runs. After the original patent is filed in one country, the company has one year to file it in other countries. So patent expiry dates in other countries may differ from UK. Some developed countries grant patent extensions longer than 20 years (eg USA). Many developing countries have/had different patent laws; in some of them you will find local generic companies legally producing AZT (often for much less than from Glaxo-Wellcome) as the country only recognised process patents and not product patents. If countries become member of World Trade Organisation (WTO), they will have to comply with the TRIPS agreement. Developing countries will have to become TRIPS compliant in 2000 or 2005 (least developed countries). They will then have to grant a minimum of 20 years of patents protection for NEW patents. As AZT is already old, it is likely that currently produced AZT will stay legally on those markets. Developing countries can use parallel import and compulsory licencing under TRIPS. See WHO/EDM publication 98.9, obtainable from dapmail@who.ch For more specialized patent info, see earlier E-drug questions and answers. WB] -- Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'. Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'. For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.