In an exciting step towards Universal Access to AIDS treatment, the Thai Food and Drug Administration has recently approved the registration of the generic version of heat stable Kaletra produced by the Indian pharmaceutical company Matrix Laboratories. Thanks to the bold decision making of the Thai government and tireless campaigning by AIDS activists, this historic move means that 8,000 HIV positive people will be given free access to the lifesaving antiretroviral drug.

This follows a long battle between the Thai Ministry of Health and the US based pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories who own the patent on Kaletra. Unable to afford the high price Abbott were charging for Heat stable Kaletra, in January 2007 the Thai government announced that it would seek to import affordable generic versions of this key antiretroviral drug. It was a move estimated to save the country as much as US$24 million and furthermore a decision that was widely supported by international health organisations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres.

However, Abbott retaliated viciously against the Thai government and withdrew registration of all their new drugs, effectively holding the government to ransom. As activists across the world pointed out, and as the British government subsequently declared, Thailand was acting well within international law. Abbott offered to reduce their price to US$1000 per person per year with strings attached, but the Thai government held firm and began sourcing the drug from a generic manufacturer, Matrix Laboratories in India, at US$695.

It is a hugely exciting step that just last month the Thai FDA approved this new generic form for use in the Thai market. It will ensure thousands of people have free access to life-saving medication. The Thai government’s determination will hopefully create a ripple effect, encouraging other developing countries to confront the hegemonic pharmaceutical companies, and join you and all other activists in the fight for Universal Access.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 12:58 pm and is filed under Campaign News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.