E-drug: DDI in Thailand
---------------------------------------------
Dear all,
please see this article in the Bangkok Post today on Didanosine (ddI).
[separate e-drug posting]
Our position is the following:
The price of ddI (Videx) by Bristol-Myers Squibb can not be justified by
the expenses for Research & Development because the drug was developed by
the U.S. National Institute of Health and the U.S. government holds a
patent in the U.S. (Patent US 4861759, US 5616566).
Bristol-Myers Squibb was granted a patent in Thailand on an improved
formulation of ddI containing a buffer (patent No. 7600). We do not
consider the addition of a buffer as a significant invention justifying
patent protection in Thailand. We, Foundation for Consumers, PHA groups and
MSF, will examine today if the patent can be contested in court.
With the knowledge of Bristol-Myers Squibb, the Government Pharmaceutical
Organization (GPO) has spent time (years) and resources to prepare the
production of the Videx formulation. GPO was prevented from production when
the patent was granted. Because of its public health importance and GPO's
readiness to prepare this formulation we recommend GPO to ask for public
use of patent No. 7600 according to section 51 of the Thai Patent Act.
Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MD
Medecins sans frontieres
Bangkok, Thailand
"MSF-Drugs Bangkok" <msfdrugs@asianet.co.th>
--
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'.