BRASILIA, June 25 (AFP) - Brazilian Health Minister Humberto Costa signalled his government was set to move to break the patent on Abbott Laboratories' Kaletra AIDS drug because it would reduce treatment costs.
Citing "public interest," Costa said the Brazilian government would likely break the patent on Kaletra, but that the US group Abbott had 10 days in which to respond and seek a negotiated agreement.
"The Brazilian government will adopt a compulsory licence for the treatment if the manufacturer (Abbott) does not accept the presented terms to guarantee the sustainability of the national program to combat AIDS," Costa told reporters at a news conference on Friday.
The government said it needs to find a way to reduce the costs of the treatment, which it says is too expensive.
In a statement, Abbott said patients would lose out in the long run if the Brazil breaks the Kaletra patent.
"The discovery and development of innovative new treatments depends on the reasonable return on investment for existing treatments," the Chicago-based drug-maker argued.
"There are significant consequences for patients, such as the development of viral resistance, that must be considered when evaluating unproven, alternative formulations of HIV medications," it added.
Brazil already receives Abbott treatments at prices that represent a financial loss to the company, the statement said. It sells Kaletra to Brazil "for the lowest price in the world" outside of Africa and UN-designated least developed countries, it said.
"Abbott remains willing to work with the government to find a mutually agreeable solution," it added.
050625
AF050631
Copyright ©AFP 2005. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission. obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1990, 2005 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
