| ■ Thailand may get cancer drug free from Novartis: minister | 2007.11.26 |
| BANGKOK (AFP) - Thailand could get a cancer medicine from Norvatis for free if it slows its drive for generic versions of patented drugs, the country's health minister said Wednesday. Thailand is at the forefront of an international battle with pharmaceutical companies over so-called compulsory licenses, which temporarily suspend patent protections. The government has already issued compulsory licenses to get copycat versions of a heart drug and two key AIDS medicines. In September, it announced that it would also seek generic versions of four cancer drugs. During talks with Novartis over its cancer-fighting Imatinib, Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said the company had offered to provide the drug for free if Thailand halts its drive to expand its generic drug programme. If a deal were reached, the government could provide unlimited amounts of the drug through its universal health care scheme, he said. Imatinib currently costs as much as 100,000 baht (2,950 dollars) per patient per month. "Novartis proposed to us to give free Imatinib without condition and limit in amount and time. We are in the final process of discussion," Mongkol told a seminar on compulsory licensing (CL) in Bangkok. |