# \[e-drug\] MSF Denounces Abbott
**URL:** https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-msf-denounces-abbott/27517
**Category:** e-drug
**Created:** [March 15, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-msf-denounces-abbott/27517 "2007-03-15T14:11:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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### Author:  [@Buddhima\_Lokuge](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Buddhima_Lokuge)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-msf-denounces-abbott/27517/1 "2007-03-15T14:11:57Z")
E-DRUG: MSF Denounces Abbott
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MSF Denounces Abbott's Move to Withhold Medicines From People in Thailand
Bangkok/New York/Geneva, 15 March 2007
The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Fronteres (MSF) today denounced Abbott Laboratories' decision not to market its new
medicines in Thailand. The Chicago-based multinational pharmaceutical
company has cited Thailand's use of compulsory licenses as a reason for
taking the drastic measures. MSF notes that the use of compulsory licenses
to improve access to essential medicines is consistent with international
laws, and is concerned that patients will bear the brunt of Abbott's harsh
decision.
Among the drugs the company is refusing to sell in Thailand is the new,
heat-stable version of the medicine lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), marketed
by Abbott as Kaletra. The drug is a vital component of treatment for a
growing number of people living with HIV who no longer respond to
their first set of medications. In the US, Abbott no longer sells the old
version of the drug, which requires refrigeration. The company will
continue to sell it in Thailand, though, where tropical temperatures make
it highly impractical to use.
'Our patients in Thailand, who still use the old version of the medicine,
have been waiting for this new version for a very long time,' said Dr.
David Wilson, of MSF in Thailand. 'The drug was registered in the US in
October 2005, but still cannot be used in Thailand and many other
countries where it is desperately needed. Refusing to sell the drug here
is a major betrayal to patients.'
MSF currently provides treatment to more than 80,000 people living with
HIV in over 30 countries. In one MSF project in Khayelitsha, South
Africa, 20% of patients needed to be switched to a second-line regimen
after being on treatment for five years. While the needs for second-line
regimens are likely to increase in the coming years, medicines used for
second-line therapy are mostly unavailable or unaffordable in developing
countries.
Since November 2006, Thailand has issued compulsory licenses for three
medicines, including the antiretroviral drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir. The
director of the World Health Organization (WHO), Margaret Chan and the
director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot have both spoken in favor of governments
using all flexibilities of the World Trade Organization's agreement on
Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). MSF is
calling on WHO, UNAIDS, governments, and other international bodies to
denounce Abbott's move.
'Thailand's move to issue compulsory licenses is an important way to help
bring prices down and increase availability of medicines,' said Ellen't
Hoen, Policy Director at MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines.
'In light of this, Abbott's move is appalling.'
Nearly one year ago, Abbott announced a price of US$ 500 per patient per
year for Africa and least-developed countries. In August 2006, the company
announced a price of US$ 2,200 per patient per year in low-income and
low-middle income countries, such as Thailand, which far exceeds what
people can afford. Today's standard three-in-one first line HIV
treatment in developing countries is currently available for US$ 140 per
patient per year.
Abbott has failed to provide any information in response to MSF's repeated
requests for a registration status update. MSF and other groups have
consistently been calling upon the company to register the new version of
the drug in developing countries, so that it can be used by patients in
resource-poor settings.
'These discounted prices from Abbott exist only on paper, because the
company has been dragging its feet about registering the product in many
countries,' said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF's Campaign
for Access to Essential Medicines. 'And now they have gone even further by
withdrawing registration from Thailand, a tactic that effectively holds
patients hostage.'
Buddhima Lokuge
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
Tel: +1-212-655-3762
Buddhima Lokuge \