Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8669

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Hargreaves S.
More than 200,000 people ask Novartis to drop its challenge on drug patent.
BMJ 2007 Feb 3; 334:(7587):226
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/334/7587/226-a

Abstract:

As the Indian High Court this week postponed the hearing of the legal challenge by the Swiss drug company Novartis against the Indian government over its refusal to grant the company a patent on imatinib (Glivec), nearly a quarter of a million people from more than 150 countries signed an international petition calling for Novartis to back down.

Unni Karunakara, from the charity Médecins Sans Frontières, said at a press briefing this week in New Delhi: “Over 80% of the medicines we use to treat AIDS patients come from India, and access to affordable and new drugs for HIV is now becoming imperative as drug resistance grows . . . Sixty seven per cent of India’s generic drug exports go to the developing world. We cannot stand by and let Novartis turn off the tap.”

Leena Menghaney, a lawyer for the charity, said: “The court case was adjourned today until . . .

Keywords:
Publication Types: News MeSH Terms: Drug Industry* Drugs, Generic/supply & distribution* HIV Infections/drug therapy* India Patents* Substances: Drugs, Generic