Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - Wednesday 02 October 2002
The court ruled in favour of three plaintiffs - two Aids patients and an activist group - and said the US firm would have the exclusive right to produce the drug, didanosine, only in certain doses, allowing others to produce it in different doses.
Thai activists yesterday welcomed the court verdict.
"This is the first court victory for HIV/Aids patients," said Nimit Tienudom, executive director of Aids Access.
"We expect this ruling will set a precedent for other Aids advocacy groups and patients to follow." The plaintiffs told the court that giving Bristol-Myers Squibb exclusive rights to make the drug, known as ddI, prevented other companies from producing cheaper remedies.
While Bristol-Myers Squibb's ddI cost 40 baht a pill, the state-owned drug firm could sell them at half price if the company's rights were limited.
Bristol-Myers Squibb said the Aids foundation could not act on behalf of Aids patients in Thailand and the patent it was holding was valid in other countries. The defendants have 30 days to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Bristol-Myers Squibb representatives could not be reached for comment.
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