Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - April 19, 2007
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
A source said the Public Health Ministry was looking for generic drug producers of the new tablet form of the protease inhibitor lopinavir/ritonavir in India. Thus would offer HIV-positive people with resistance to first-line drugs such as the locally-made GPO-VIR access to a superior regimen of the second-line Aids drug.
The decision was made after the US-based company opposed the government's decision to go for compulsory licensing and threatened to withhold the introduction of new drugs in Thailand, including Aluvia which is an improved version of Kaletra, the source said.
It was possible that the government would receive cooperation from international organisations, including the Clinton Foundation, to help negotiate the price with the generic drug makers in order to ensure that the price of Aids drugs would be affordable for Thai people living with HIV/Aids, the source said.
The objective of the Clinton Foundation HIV/Aids Initiative (Chai) is to make treatment for HIV/Aids more affordable and to implement large-scale integrated care, treatment and prevention programmes.
Virat Poorahong, head of the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/Aids, said the generic version of Aluvia costs about 4,000 baht per month. However, this improved version of Kaletra could be reduced to below 2,000 baht to compete with the Kaletra price offered by Abbott.
Abbott has decided to lower the price of Kaletra to 3,488.20 baht in Thailand. However, it is unclear whether the ministry will accept the offer or proceed with its plan to import the generic version from India under the compulsory licensing.
HIV-positive Thais with resistance to first-line drugs spend up to 11,850 baht per month to buy such medicine.
Last year, Abbott announced that it would sell Aluvia at a price of $2,200 (71,000 baht) a year in developing and middle-income countries including Thailand.
However, the drug firm decided last month to withdraw its introduction of the medicine and other new drugs in Thailand in opposition to the government's compulsory licensing decision, which allows the state to override drug patents to import or produce cheaper versions of the medicine for emergency use.
Mr Virat said he and former Bangkok senator and health activist Jon Ungphakorn were also invited by a group of shareholders in Abbott Laboratories to attend the annual stockholders meeting in Chicago on April 27 and address the necessity of adopting compulsory licencing to give Thai people access to affordable medicine.
Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla and his special adviser Suwit Wibulpolprasert will also be going to Washington to defend the decision to use compulsory licencing. They say it does not contradict the World Trade Organisation's agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.
070419
BP070404
Copyright © 2007 - The Bangkok Post. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Bangkok Post.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. 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. .