E-DRUG: BMS: USD 347 for didanosine+stavudine per year
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[crossposted from Pharm-Policy with thanks; 4 messages
combined into one!
Besides a price reduction for a TWO-drug combination to USD 347
per year, BMS (with support of patent holder Yale University) now also
offers voluntary licenses for local production in Africa.
Any takers?
Please note that the Indian generic company Hetero offered
a THREE-drug combination for the same USD 347.
Amazing, how fast the prices are going down right now!
The combination of cheap generics with the threat of
compulsory licensing seems to drive prices down really fast!
Big Pharma seems to want to avoid a compulsory license at
all cost. This is good news for HIV+ people in poor countries.
The pressure will soon shift to Ministries of Health:
are they prepared to start pilot projects with ARVs?? NN]
http://www.bms.com/landing/data/index.html
Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Accelerated Effort To Fight HIV/AIDS In Africa
Company launches four-part plan:
AIDS DRUGS BELOW COST
Bristol-Myers Squibb will make Videx� (didanosine) and Zerit�
(stavudine), its two medicines for HIV/AIDS, available in poor countries
in Africa at 15 cents per day for Zerit and 80 cents per day for Videx
-- prices below their cost to the company.
TRANSPARENT PRICING FOR AIDS DRUGS IN AFRICA
The prices of the products offered under the ACCESS program will be
fully public.
$115 MILLION IN SECURE THE FUTURE� PHILANTHROPY
Bristol-Myers Squibb pledges an additional $15 million in funds for our
SECURE THE FUTURE initiative in southern Africa, raising the program
total to $115 million.
EMERGENCY PATENT RELIEF
Bristol-Myers Squibb has made an agreement with Yale University to grant
a free license under the patent for Zerit (rights to which are owned by
Yale and Bristol-Myers Squibb) to treat AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
------
[also from BMS:]
``This is not about profits and patents; it's about poverty and a
devastating disease,'' said John L. McGoldrick, executive vice president,
Bristol-Myers Squibb. ``We seek no profits on AIDS drugs in Africa, and we
will not let our patents be an obstacle.''
Bristol-Myers Squibb has been active for several years in finding
innovative and workable approaches to dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis in
Africa, culminating with the announcement today of this four-point program.
In 1999, the company launched its $100 million, ``Secure the Future''
initiative to fund research, training and community outreach in southern
Africa. In May 2000, as part of the Access initiative, the company lowered
its prices of AIDS medicines in poor countries by 90 percent of what they
cost in the developed world.
``The facts are clear: the African continent is at risk, health
infrastructure needs are huge, and urgent action is needed now,'' said Mr.
McGoldrick. ``Of 36 million HIV-positive people worldwide, 25 million are
in Africa. An estimated 12-15 million Africans may be medically eligible
for drug treatment, more than ten times the number receiving treatment
today worldwide. We intend to do our part, but all agree that drugs alone
will not solve the problem. Massive expenditures to address healthcare
infrastructure needs are critical. African governments and donor
governments in Europe, Japan and the U.S. must join with U.N.
organizations, pharmaceutical companies, non-governmental organizations and
others to address this human tragedy in Africa.''
``We at Bristol-Myers Squibb certainly do not have all the answers. But we
hope our initiatives can be of some help to African AIDS sufferers and may
help energize and accelerate world understanding and action. Outside
Africa, we will maintain our existing ACCESS pricing program and address
the subject on a country-by-country basis,'' he said.
CONTACT: Bob Laverty, 212-546-3993, or Patti Duquette, 609-252-3390, both
of Public Affairs of Bristol-Myers Squibb.
SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
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[comment by Jamie Love]
If CIPLA can sell a 3 drug cocktail for $1 per day., how does BMS figure
that $1 for ddI and d4T (2 drugs) is below costs?
Jamie
------
Corrections or additions to this are welcome. Jamie
http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/aids/gov-role.html
ddI Patent Information
According to UNAIDS, the United States of America has been granted
patent rights in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germancy, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden,
Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and USA (UNAIDS/WHO, Patent situation
of HIV/AIDS related drugs in 80 countries). According to UNAIDS, the
United States of America filed for patent rights in Australia, Cyprus,
Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, and Singapore (Ibid).
The UNAIDS study also noted that the Wellcome Foundation was
granted patent rights for ddI in Canada, Austria Belgium, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechstenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the USA. The
Wellcome Foundation filed for patent rights in Australia, Denmark,
Finland, Greece, Hungary New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain (Ibid)..
Bristol-Myers Squibb has been granted foreign patent rights in
Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden,
and the United Kingdom.
http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/aids/gov-role.html
Yale has been granted patent rights in Austria, Belgium, Canada,France,
Germany,Greece,Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein,Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
and the USA.
Yale filed for patent rights in Australia, Denmark, Egypt,Finland,
Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania,
Singapore, South Africa, and Taiwan.
It is possible that other firms may be sought to obtain patents on
d4T in other countries, particularly in countries that have a "first to
file" system. Other persons may also hold other patents on d4T, such as
formulation, dose or treatment regime patents. We have not looked at
this yet. But the US "orange" book only lists the Yale patent.
--
James Love
Consumer Project on Technology
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
http://www.cptech.org
love@cptech.org
1.202.387.8030 fax 1.202.234.5176