Thalassemia Patients and Friends
Discussion Forums => General Chatter => Topic started by: Andy Battaglia on August 11, 2007, 12:28:05 AM
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In the news this week is this important story about the ongoing lawsuit that Novartis had filed in Indian courts to try to prevent Indian companies from producing their own cheaper versions of life-saving medications. This is a huge victory for Indians and may mean that Novartis will also find no success in Indian courts in preventing the cheap production of life-saving drugs such as Exjade. International agreements do allow countries to produce their own versions of patented drugs if they are necessary to keep people alive, but Novartis has continued to oppose the production of some of these drugs. Previously, the Indian company Cipla, has produced and sold at cost, its own version of deferiprone, which it markets as Kelfer. This policy has resulted in an increasing lifespan for Indian thals, and has been responsible for keeping several members of this group alive.
From http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/08/06/india_rejects_novartis_drug_patent_case/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News
India rejects Novartis drug patent case
By Gavin Rabinowitz, Associated Press Writer | August 6, 2007
NEW DELHI --An Indian court on Monday rejected a challenge to the country's patent laws by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, a decision hailed by medical aid groups as a victory for millions of poor patients in developing countries.
Novartis said the court ruling -- over the definition of a new or improved drug -- was a blow to the idea of intellectual property rights and would have long-term negative effects on research into new drugs. However, the company said it was unlikely to appeal the ruling.
Novartis had challenged India's patent laws, which disallowed a patent application for what it says is a new version of its leukemia drug Gleevec, known in Europe and India as Glivec.
India's patent laws, which came into effect Jan. 1, 2005, allow patents for products that represent new inventions after 1995 -- the year India joined the World Trade Organization -- or for an updated drug that shows greater efficacy.
Novartis insists that its improved Gleevec drug is more easily absorbed by the body. But Indian drug companies and aid groups say Gleevec is a new form of an old drug invented before 1995, which is now made generically in India for a fraction of the cost.
"This is a huge relief for millions of patients and doctors in developing countries who depend on affordable medicines from India," said Tido von Schoen-Angerer, director of the Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders, campaign for access to essential medicines.
Aid groups feared a Novartis victory would set a precedent for other pharmaceutical companies seeking patent protection for essential medicines -- including AIDS drugs -- currently made cheaply in several countries.
Indian companies make a host of other generic drugs, available at a fraction of the price of branded medicine -- and used throughout the developing world, where the need for affordable medicines is high.
Doctors Without Borders said 84 percent of the drugs it uses to treat AIDS were from India. Over 420,000 people worldwide signed a petition requesting Novartis drop the case.
Novartis said it regretted the decision of the court in the southern Indian city of Chennai. The court rejected the challenge to the patent laws but has not yet ruled on the specific case of Gleevec.
"We disagree with this ruling, however we likely will not appeal to the Supreme Court," said Ranjit Shahani, the managing director of Novartis India Limited.
"It is clear there are inadequacies in Indian patent law that will have negative consequences for patients and public health in India," said Paul Herrling, Novartis' head of corporate research. "Medical progress occurs through incremental innovation. If Indian patent law does not recognize these important advances, patients will be denied new and better medicines."
Several Indian pharmaceutical companies make generic copies of Gleevec, but sell it at one-tenth of the $2,600 (1,900 euros) charged by the Swiss company for one month's dosage. However, Novartis said it provides Gleevec free of charge to 99 percent of patients prescribed the drug in India under its international assistance program.
© Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company
We can hope that Indian courts will continue to follow suit and allow the production of any and all life-saving medicines.
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:party :party :party
This is great!
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Awesome :yahoo :yahoo
Manal
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Good to hear! :stars
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Serves them right :winky
ZAINI.
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this is a greatnews we hope and pray, this type of polices should be adopeted by the other countries to help the people
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I cried over and over again whole night on 1 April 2013
I knew next inline was Deferasirox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novartis_v._Union_of_India_%26_Others
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This are great news!! If I only think, in Germany the cost for 84x500mg exjade are 3087€!!!
And in countries like Bangladesh , as Bappy told me the price is about 90€!! Someone can see how much money they earn… Well done India !
How is Bappy actually? Does someone know?
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Bappy is doing okay. He's on his way to see Dr Robin today. We managed to raise some small funds and also locate some Exjade for him.
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India's policy that allows companies to produce life saving drugs and provide them to patients at low cost is the most moral policy. It should be emulated. Every country should have drugs like Desirox and Kelfer available, so that people can afford to survive.