Thailand issued compulsory license for Kaletra

[trellium]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-01-29T101946Z_01_BKK22402_RTRIDST_0_THAILAND-DRUGS-UPDATE-2.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=BKK282297&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-2


BANGKOK, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Thailand has issued "compulsory licences" for generic, copycat versions of Kaletra, an HIV-AIDS drug, and Plavix, a blockbuster treatment for heart disease, in a move likely to outrage international pharmaceutical companies.

"The laws have been signed and became effective on Friday," Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla told reporters on Monday.

Kaletra is made by Abbott Laboratories <ABT.N> and Plavix is sold by Sanofi-Aventis <SNY.N> <SASY.PA> and Bristol-Myers Squibb <BMY.N>.

 

[marc11864]

More good news for me!!!!! 

 I was thinking about eventually becoming an expat there since my partner is Thai and one of the issues I was looking at was the fact that Kaletra was not readily available there up until now. Since it is one component of my therapy, I didn't relish travelling back and forth from the states constantly just to get it.

[trellium]

hi marc

Kaletra is marketed as Aluvia in Thailand but Truvada (Tenofovir + ETC) is still not available. 
Viread (Tenofovir) is available in Thailand now and can be combined with Epivir (3TC) in place of Truvada.

I don't think Gilead Sciences is going to market Truvada there anytime soon, but they did reduce the price of Viread (Tenofovir) by 90% in Thailand.

IMO its about time someone (or some country) finally stand up to the titan Abbott for price gorging.

[joemutt]

Since a big month I use Viread here in Thailand, I was surprised it was so cheap, now I know why 
I changed from GPO VIR250 (azt, 3tc, nevirapine) to 3tc, nevirapine (both generics) and viread, total cost about 100 us a month. My cd4s went 1271 to 769 (December) then up to 1154 (January) at 43 %.
But Novartis suing in India about patent rights makes me worry about the future of generics here as well.

[thescot]

I too use the original Viread available here in Thailand (1,600THB P/M), 3TC (1,500THB P/M) but could not take to the Stocrin for liver problems. I just switched to Rayataz/Norvir (19,000THB P/M) which is very new here but as you can see very expensive .... i'm one of the lucky ones who can afford the meds but my worry is for the unfortunate ones who cannot. If Thailand P**s off the drug makers too much then the future of original meds being available at reduced costs here may be limited.
Just my view!!!

Thescot