E-DRUG: FT article: J&J opts out of HIV rights sharing -- correction
---------------------------------------------------------
The Financial Times seems to suggest that the work of the Medicines Patent
Pool could lead to more inappropriate HIV medicines when it quotes Johnson
& Johnson's Paul Stoffels as saying the Pool could trigger "mixing and
matching" of medicines leading to resistance to innovative HIV drugs ("J&J
censured for block on HIV drug patents," 23 December 2011, available here:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d6ca3afa-2cbf-11e1-b485-00144feabdc0.html ).
This is a disturbing and untrue statement. Ensuring that the right HIV
medicines are available in particular "3-in-one pills", or Fixed-Dose
Combinations at low costs is at the core of the Pool's mission. In order
to achieve this goal, the Pool is working closely with HIV treatment
experts, including WHO and UNAIDS, to ensure that its work meets the needs
of people living with HIV and the doctors who treat them. Examples of this
are:
- The Pool's antiretroviral medicines priorities document:
http://www.medicinespatentpool.org/WHAT-WE-DO/Target-Medicines
- The WHO Pre-qualification of Medicines& the Medicines Patent Pool:
http://apps.who.int/prequal/info_general/documents/FAQ/PQ_PatentPool.pdf
----
Kaitlin Mara | Communications Manager | Medicines Patent Pool
direct: +41 22 791 6344 | mobile: +41 79 825 4786 |
www.medicinespatentpool.org
kmara@medicinespatentpool.org