E-DRUG: open MSF letter to Roche on nelfinavir
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[WB]
Letter sent to:
Hans-Ruedi Wiedmer
Pharma Affiliate Programmes
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Building 52, Office 702
Grenzacherstrasse 124
CH-4070 Basel
Telefax +41-61-688- 1525
Geneva, 31 October 2002
Dear Hans-Ruedi,
We are writing to follow-up on your offer to donate a quantity of Viracept�
(nelfinavir 250mg) for use in our HIV/AIDS project in Ukraine.
We appreciate your offer of a one-off donation of ten boxes of 270 tablets
of nelfinavir 250mg in place of our original order requesting a
preferential price. We understand that your offer would be on an
exceptional basis, without prejudice for future shipments to Ukraine or to
any other destination.
We note that our original order of ten boxes was to cover three months of
nelfinavir for 35 patients currently under treatment. However, we wish to
emphasise that our approach to you was not to seek a special deal
restricted to our patients, such as this donation offer, but rather to
secure a fair price.
MSF works closely with the Ukrainian government and both parties are
looking for a sustainable, long-term solution to address nelfinavir needs
in the Ukraine. As you know, this drug is on the WHO Model List of
Essential Medicines, which means that it satisfies "the priority health
care needs of the population". There were 250,000 HIV-positive adults in
Ukraine in 2001, according to the Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic
2002 (UNAIDS), a significant proportion of whom may eventually need a
protease inhibitor-containing regimen.
This is why we are requesting a price of 715 USD per patient per year for
our field missions, for the government and other NGOs. We think this is
fair, considering the fact that this would represent a 85% discount off the
Swiss price. As you are undoubtedly aware, the other five originator
companies selling ARVs have reduced their prices between 80-95% in
developing countries.
We kindly request that, since the patients who need this drug in Ukraine
are facing treatment interruption, you respond before close of business on
Monday 4 November.
MSF remains committed to working with Roche wherever possible to ensure
sustainable access to quality medicines for people with HIV/AIDS in
developing countries.
Your sincerely,
Raffaella Ravinetto
Pharmaceutical Co-ordinator, MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
+ 41 22 849 84 07
raffaella.ravinetto@geneva.msf.org
Jean-Fran�ois Dechamp
Focal Point for HIV/AIDS Drugs, MSF Campaign for Access to Essential
Medicines
+ 32 2 234 62 56
Bernard Schwartlander, WHO (Geneva)
Anarfiwill Asamoa-Baah, WHO (Geneva)
Tomris T�rmen, WHO (Geneva)
Jonathan Quick, EDM/WHO (Geneva)
Peter Piot, UNAIDS (Geneva)
Sharonann Lynch, Health GAP/ACT UP New York (New York)
Gregg Gonsalves, Gay Men's Health Crisis (New York)
Julien Reinhard, D�claration de Berne (Gen�ve)
Mauro Guarinieri, EATG (Rome)
Jan Souter, AIDS Suisse
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